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WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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1 

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6 

LOUDON'S 


INDIAN   NARRATIVES. 


[Reprint— 1888.] 


I 


>.  ! 


T/ii's  Reprint  Limited  to 

ONE  HUNDRED  COPIES. 


No.^A. 


.lXi^A\Av\ V s.'^..^L. •^^^    V 


[This  Reprint  of  one  of  the  rarest  of  American  books  has  been  care- 
fully compared  with  the  original  in  the  posession  of  the  Siate  Library 
of  Pennsylvania.  No  change  has  been  made  in  the  orthography,  and 
the  volumes  although  not  intending  to  be  a  fuc  simile  edition,  are  near 
enough,  that  being  impossible  owing  to  difference  in  size  of  page,  type, 
etc.,  which  varies  in  the  original.] 


UABniHBl'BO  Pl'DMSIIINQ  CoMI'ANY. 

18«8. 


J 


SELECTION, 

OF  SOME 

OF  THE  MOST  INTERESTING 

NARRATIVES, 


OF 


OUTRAGES,  COMMITTED 


BY  THE 


INDIANS, 


IN 


WITH  THE  WHITE  PEOPLE, 


ALSO, 


An  Account  of  their  Manners,  Customs.  Traditions,  Religious  Senti 
n^ents,  Mode  of  Warfare.  Military  Tactics.  Discipline  and  EncaC 
ments  rreatment  of  Prisoners.  &c.  which  are  better  Explained  and 
more  M.nutely  Related,  than  has  been  heretofore  done,  by  any  ^ther 
Author  on  that  subject.  Many  of  the  Articles  have  never  before  an' 
peared  .n  prmt.     The  whole  Compiled  from  the  best  Authorities 


By  ARCHIBALD  LOUDON. 


VOLUME  L 


C  A  R  L  I S  L  E: 
From  the  Press  ok  A.  Loudon, 

( IVhilehall.) 

1808. 


iistrict  of  Seitnsslbaitia,  to  wit 


******!  Be  it  remembered,  That  on  the  ninth  day  of  August,  in 
I  SEAL.|  the  Thirty  Third  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
*******  States  of  America,  A.  D.  1808.  Archibald  Loudon,  of  the 
said  District,  hath  deposited  in  this  Office,  the  Title  of  a  Book,  the 
Right  whereof  he  claims  as  Author,  in  the  Words  following,  to  wit : 

•*  A  Selection  of  some  of  the  most  Interesting  Narratives,  of  Outrages 
"  Committed  by  the  Indians,  in  their  Wars,  with  the  White  People. 
"  Also,  an  account  of  their  Manners,  Customs,  Traditions,  Religious 
"  Sentiments,  Mode  of  Warfare,  Military  Tactics,  Discipline  and  En- 
"  campments.  Treatment  of  Prisoners,  &c.  which  are  better  Explained, 
"  and  more  Minutely  Related,  than  has  been  heretofore  done,  by  any 
"  other  Author  on  that  Subject.  Many  of  the  Articles  have  never 
"  before  appeared  in  print.  The  whole  compiled  from  the  best  Authori- 
"ties, — By  Archibald  Loudon." 

In  Conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in- 
tituled, "An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the 
Copies  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of 
such  Copies  during  the  Times  therein  mentioned."  And  also  to  the 
Act,  entitled  "An  Act  supplementary  to  Act,  entitled,  "An  Act  for  the 
Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts, 
and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies  during  the 
Times  therein  mentioned,"  and  extending  the  Benefits  thereof  to  th'i 
Arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etching  historical  and  other  Prints." 

D.  CALDWELL,  Clerk  of  the 
District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PREFACE. 


IT  is  with  pleasure  we  at  length  present  to  the 
public,  our  Collection  of  Indian  Narratives;  it  is  with 
no  less  satisfaction  we  are  enabled  to  state  that  a  col- 
lection has  been  procured  much  more  ample  and  in- 
teresting than  at  first  expected.  This  volume  is  per- 
haps four  times  as  large  as  at  first  contemplated :  and 
we  have  yet  in  our  hands  a  sufficiency  of  materials 
to  compose  another  volume  of  the  same  dimensions, 
should  we  be  encouraged  to  it,  by  the  degree  of  ap- 
probation, with  which  the  present  may  be  received. 

TiiK  facts  and  Narratives,  here  collected,  have 
been  obtained  from  persons  on  whom  the  fullest  reli- 
ance can  be  placed.  A  few  of  them,  have  been  pub- 
lished before,  but  the  greater  j)art  now  appear  in  print 
for  the  first  time.  In  obtaining  them,  from  different 
parts  of  this  State  and  of  the  Union,  the  publisher 
has  been  at  very  considerable  pains  and  trouble. 
He  should,  however,  think  himself  ungrateful,  if  he 
did  not  take  this  opportunity  of  exi)ressing  his  sin- 
cere thanks,  to  those  gentlemen  who  have  so  politely 
favored  him,  with  communications  on  the  subject. 

Some  of  those  gentlemen  who  have  been  .so  polite, 
as  to  favor  us  with  their  assistance,  will  be  disap- 


It 


PREFACE. 


\ 


pointed  in  not  finding  their  communications  inserted 
in  this  volume ;  we  are  sorry  to  inform  them  that 
they  were  unavoidably  postponed  on  account  of  mat- 
ter previously  obtained :  in  the  second  volume,  how- 
ever, we  hope  to  be  able,  to  give  them  to  the  public. 
This  little  book,  cannot  fail  of  being  interesting  to 
the  people  of  this  country ;  many  of  whom,  yet  re- 
member the  transactions,  and  few  there  are,  whose 
fathers,  or  brothers,  or  friends,  have  not  participated 
in  them.  The  historian,  will  here  find  materials  to 
assist  him  in  conveying  to  after  ages,  an  idea  of  the 
savages  who  were  the  primitive  inhabitants  of  this 
country ;  and  to  future  generations  of  Americans,  the 
many  difficulties,  toils,  and  dangers,  encountered  by 
their  fathers,  in  forming  the  first  settlement  of  a  land, 
even  at  this  day  so  fair,  so  rich,  in  every  kind  of  cul- 
tivation and  improvement.  The  philosopher  who 
speaks  with  delight,  of  the  original  simplicity,  and 
primitive  innocence  of  mankind,  may  here  learn, 
that  man,  uncivilized  and  barbarous,  is  even  worse 
than  the  most  ferocious  wolf  or  panther  of  the  forest. 
That  men  of  philosophic  minds,  feeling  in  them- 
selves the  impulse  of  humanity  entertain  such  mis- 
taken notions  of  the  Indians,  is  evident  from  the 
writings  of  many ;  who  were  they  to  trust  themselves 
to  these  people,  would  find  themselves  as  much  mis- 
taken as  the  philosopher  Sograin  and  Pike,  to  whom 
Mr.  Brackenridge  alludes,  in  his  observations  pub- 
lished in  the  course  of  the  Indian  war,  and  lately  ex- 
tracted in  his  Gazette  Publications,  of  which  we  give 
a  paragraph. 


PREFACE.  ▼ 

"I  consider  men  who  are  unacquainted  with  the 
savages,  like  young  women  who  liave  read  romances, 
and  have  as  improper  an  idea  of  the  Indian  charac- 
ter in  the  one  case,  as  tlie  female  mind  has  of  real 
life  in  the  other.  The  philosopher,  weary  of  the  vices 
of  refined  life,  thinks  to  find  perfect  virtue  in  the 
simplicity  of  the  unimproved  state.  He  sees  green 
fields  and  meadows  in  the  customs  and  virtues  of  the 
savages.  It  is  experience  only  can  relieve  from  this 
calenture  of  the  intellect.  All  that  is  good  and  great 
in  man,  results  from  education;  an  uncivilized  In- 
dian is  but  a  little  wav  removed  from  a  beast  who, 
when  incensed,  can  only  tear  and  devour,  but  the 
savage  applies  the  ingenuity  of  man  to  torture  and 
inflict  anguish. 

"Some  years  ago,  two  French  gentlemen,  a  botan- 
ist and  a  mineralist,  the  botanist  a  very  learned  man, 
and  truly  a  philosopher — but  his  l)rain  turned  with 
Jean  Jacques  Rousseau's,  and  other  rhapsodies — the 
man  of  nature  was  hii^  darling  favourite.  He  had  the 
Indians  with  him  at  his  chamber  every  day. — Fit- 
ting out  a  small  boat  on  the  Ohio,  with  only  two 
other  persons,  and  without  arms,  he  descended.  It 
was  in  vain  to  explain  the  danger,  and  dissuade  him. 
He  was  conscious  to  himself  of  loving  Indians,  and 
doubtless  they  could  wish  him  no  harm.  But  ap- 
proaching the  Scioto  river,  a  party  came  out  in  a 
canoe,  as  he  thought,  to  pay  their  respects,  to  him; 
but  the  first  circumstance  of  ceremony  when  they 
came  on  board,  was  to  impress  the  tomahawk  and 
take  off  the  scalp  of  the  philosopher." 


|^T*i«—imi¥n»:'>»i<Mii»WW»— I 


Mk.  ARCHIBALD  LOUDON. 


il 


Sir, 

Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  have  collected  and 
send  you  the  relations  of  Slover  and  Knight,  which, 
appeared  in  the  papers  subsequent  to  Crawfords  ex- 
pedition, to  which  they  relate.  They  were  originally 
sent  by  me,  to  the  Printer  of  the  Freeman's  Journal 
Philadelpliia.  That  of  Slover  I  took  down  from  his 
own  mouth ;  that  of  Knight  I  think  he  wrote  himself 
and  gave  it  to  me.  I  saw  Knight  on  his  being  brought 
into  the  garrison  at  Pittsburg;  he  was  weak  and 
scarcely  able  to  articulate.  When  he  began  to  be 
able  to  speak  a  little,  his  Scottish  dialect  was  much 
broader  than  it  had  been  when  I  knew  him  before. 
This  I  remarked  as  usual  with  persons  in  a  fever,  or 
sick,  they  return  to  the  vernacular  tongue  of  their 
early  years.  It  was  three  weeks  before  he  was  able 
to  give  anything  like  a  continued  account  of  his  suf- 
ferings. 

After  a  treaty  or  temporary  peace  had  taken  place, 
I  saw  traders  who  had  been  with  the  Indians  at  San- 
dusky, and  had  the  same  account  from  the  Indians 
themselves  which  Knight  gave  of  his  escape,  but  the 
Indian  who  had  him  in  charge  had  magnified  the 
stature  and  bulk  of  the  body  of  Knight  to  save  his 


(  vii) 


|ace> 

kn- 

lans 

I  the 

the 

his 


credit;  but  was  laughed  at  hy  the  Indians  who  knew 
him  to  be  a  weak  feeble  man,  which  was  the  reason 
that  a  guard  of  one  Indian  had  been  thought  suffi- 
cient. The  reason  of  the  gun  not  going  off,  was  that 
the  Indian  had  plugged  it,  as  usually  done,  to  keep 
the  wet  from  entering  the  touch  hole.  The  Indians 
confirmed  the  account  of  Slover  in  all  particulars, 
save  as  to  the  circumstance  of  his  escape  which  they 
said  was  with  tlie  assistance  of  the  Squaws,  The 
story  of  the  lame  Indian,  and  of  the  trial  of  Mamach- 
taga  is  extracted  from  a  memorandum  made  at  the 
time. 

I  had  often  thought  of  minuting  down  many  things 
that  occurred  in  the  Indian  war,  but  I  neglected  it. 
A  short  time  after  I  went  to  the  western  country  in 
the  spring  of  '81  many  particulars  occurred  of  In- 
dian barbarity  on  the  frontier,  and  of  activity  on  the 
part  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  pursuit  of  the  Indians 
in  their  retreat  from  the  settlement.     The  personal 
prowess  of  two  brothers  of  the  name  of  Poe,  I  think 
Adam  and  Andrew  in  an  encounter  of  five  Indians 
would  deserve  a  particular  relation,  but  I  cannot  give 
it.     Some  of  your  correspondents   in   Washington 
County,  of  the  Cross  Creek  settlement  could  give  it. 
Within  three  miles  of  Pittsburg  on  the  Ohio  bank, 
on  this  side  three  fine  ])oys  of  tlie  name  of  Chambers, 
were  murdered  in  a  corn-field,  and  to  the  south  of 
the  garrison  on  a  branch  of  Shertiers  Creek,  part  of 
a  family  of  the  name  of  Walker  were  murdered,  and 
several  other  butcheries  that  I  could  de[)ict ;  but  at 


:i 


(  viii  ) 

the  time  I  declined  going  to  visit  the  scene,  as  it  was 
not  absolutely  necessary,  and  even  now  to  relate  is 
not  pleasant.  Perhaps  in  the  course  of  your  publi- 
cation, and  before  you  finish  it  I  may  communicate 
to  you  some  other  i)articulars. 

In  the  moan  time,  I  am, 

Your  most  obedient, 

Humble  servant, 

H.  If.  Brackenridge. 


;  was 
ite  is 
ubJi- 
icate 


Contents. 


E. 


PAGE. 

Nartative  of  Dr.  Knight 1 

Short  Memoir  of  Colonel  Crawford        .         .         .  16 

Narrative:  of  John  Slover 17 

Mrs.  Francis  Scott  .  .  .33 

Trial  of  Mamachtaga 38 

Story  of  the  lame  Indian 51 

Frederick  Manheims'  family,  dreadful  distress  of   .  58 

Rev.  John  Corbley,  sufferings  of  him  and  family  .  60 
Remarkable  encounter  of  a  White  man  and  two  Indians  62 
Singular  proioess  of  a  Woman  in  combat  with  some  In- 

(iians 

Capt.  Isaac  Stewart,  Narrative  of  his  Adventure 
Massy  Herbeson,  Account  of  her  Sufferings 
Peter  Williamson,  Sufferings  of        ...       . 
Jackson  Johonnet,  Remarkable  Adventure  of 
Wyoming,  Account  of  the  dreadful  devastation  of 

Mary  Jordan,  Sufferings  of 

General  Putnam,  Story  of       ,         .         . 

Col.  James  Smith,  an  account  of  his  Captivity 
His  Adoption 

His  account  of  Winter's  Quarters        .... 

Ottawas  Tents  described 

Indian's  opinion  that    Geese  turns   to  Beavers  and 

Snakes  to  Racoons         ...... 

Method  of  Conjuring        .... 

of  Cutting  their  Ears         .... 

Tecaughretanego  Prays  for  Rain         .... 


65 
66 
69 
74 

88 

irx) 

107 

111 

119 
128 
142 
160 

164 
175 
181 
197 


.:an*g.-^-. ';--- 


CONTENTS. 


The  Manners  and  Customs  of  the  Indians 
Their  Traditions  and  Religious  Sentiments 
Discipline  and  method  of  Warfare 
John  M'  Cullough,  Esq.  his  Narrative 
Shoots  Wa-took,  an  Indian  Boy,  by  accident 
Himself  neat  ly  Droivned 
Indian  Prophet         •  •  .  .         . 

His  Idea  of  Future  Rewards  6-  Punishments 
Murder  of  Tom  Green         .... 

of  a  Schoolmaster  and  Scholars 

Indian  Manners  and  Customs 

Their  Mode  of  Warfare 

Matrimony         ...... 

Funerals 


233 
235 
241 
252 

262 
266 
272 
275 

278 
283 
286 
290 
294 
296 


233 
.  235 
.  241 
.  252 

262 
.  266 

272 
.  275 

278 
.  283 

286 
.  290 

294 

296 


THE 


NARRATIVE  of  Dr.  KNIGHT 


ABOUT  the  latter  end  of  the  month  of  March  or 
the  beginning  of  April,  of  the  present  year  1782, 
the  western  Indians  began  to  make  incursions  ui)on  the 
frontiers  of  Ohio,  Washington,  Youghagany  and  West- 
moreland counties,  which  has  been  their  constant  practice 
ever  since  thecommencementof  the  present  war,  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 

In  consequence  of  these  i)redatory  invasions,  the  prin- 
cipal officers  of  the  above  mentioned  counties,  namely  : 
Colonels  Williamson  and  Marshall,  tried  every  method 
in  their  power  to  set  on  foot  an  expedition  against  the 
Wyandot  towns,  which  they  could  effect  no  other  way 
than  by  giving  all  possible  encouragement  to  volunteers. 
The  plan  proj)osed  was  as  follows  :  Every  man  furnish- 
ing himself  with  a  horse,  a  gun,  and  one  month's  pro- 
vision, should  be  exemjjt  from  two  tours  of  militia  duty. 
Likewise,  that  every  one  who  had  l)een  plundered  by 
tiie  Indians,  should,  if  the  plunder  could  be  found  at 
their  towns,  have  it  again,  i)roving  it  to  be  his  property, 
and  all  horses  lost  on  theexjjedition  by  unav()idal)le  ac- 
cident were  to  be  replaced  by  horses  taken  in  the  enemy's 
country. 

The  time  appointed  for  the  rendezvous,  or  the  general 
meeting  of  the  volunteers,  was  fixed  to  be  on  the  2()th  of 


(2) 


1^ 


May,  and  the  place,  the  old  Mingo  town,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  river  Ohio,  about  40  miles  below  Fort  Pitt, 
by  land ;  and  I  think  about  75  by  water. 

Col.  Crawford  was  solicited  by  the  general  voice  of 
these  western  counties  and  districts  to  command  the  ex- 
pedition. He  accordingly  set  out  as  volunteer,  and  came 
to  Fort  Pitt,  two  days  before  the  time  appointed  for  the 
assembling  of  the  men.  As  there  was  no  surgeon  yet 
appointed  to  go  with  the  expedition,  colonel  Crawford 
begged  the  favor  of  gen.  Irvine  to  permit  me  to  accom- 
pany him,  (my  consent  having  been  previously  asked,) 
to  which  the  general  agreed,  provided  colonel  Gibson 
did  not  object. 

Having  obtained  permission  of  the  colonel,  I  left  Fort 
Pitt  on  Tuesday,  May  1st,  and  the  next  day  about  one 
in  the  afternoon,  arrived  at  the  Mingo  bottom.  The 
volunteers  had  not  all  crossed  the  river  until  Friday 
morning,  the  24th,  they  then  distributed  themselves  into 
eighteen  companies,  choosing  their  captains  by  vote. 
There  were  chosen  also,  one  colonel  commandant,  four 
field  and  one  brigade  major.  There  were  four  hundred 
and  sixty-five  who  voted. 

We  began  our  march  on  Saturday,  May  25th,  making 
almost  a  duo  west  course,  and  on  the  fourth  day  reached 
the  old  Moravian  town,  upon  the  river  Muskingum, 
about  60  miles  from  the  river  Ohio.  Some  of  the  men 
having  lost  their  horses  on  the  night  preceding,  returned 
home. 

Tuesday,  the  28th,  in  the  ey...nng,  major  Brenton  and 
captain  Bean  went  some  distance  from  camp  to  recon- 
noitre; having  gone  about  /ne-quarterof  amilethey  saw 
two  Indians,  uporf  wliom  they  fired,  and  then  returned 
to  camp.  This  was  the  first  place  in  which  we  were  dis- 
covered, as  we  understood  afterwards. 


(  3) 

On  Thursday,  the  fourth  of  June,  which  was  the 
eleventh  clav  of  our  march,  about  1  o'clock  we  came  to 
the  spot  where  the  town  of  Sandusky  formerly  stood ; 
the  inhabitants  had  moved  18  miles  lower  down  the 
creek  nearer  the  lower  Sandusky:  but  as  neither  our 
guides  or  any  who  were  with  us  had  known  any  thing 
of  their  removal,  we  began  to  conjecture  there  were  no 
Indian  towns  nearer  than  the  lower  Sandusky,  which 
was  at  least  forty  miles  distant. 

However,  after  refreshing  our  horses  we  advanced  in 
search  of  some  of  their  settlements,  but  had  scarcely  got 
the  distance  of  three  or  four  miles  from  the  old  town 
when  a  number  of  our  men  expressed  their  desire  to  re- 
turn, some  of  them  alleging  that  they  had  only  five  days* 
provision;  upon  which  the  field  officers  and  captains, 
determined  in  council,  to  proceed  that  afternoon,  and  no 
longer.  Previous  to  tb  ailing  of  this  council,  a  small 
party  of  light  hor  ..d  been  sent  forward  to  recon- 
noitre. 

I  shall  here  remark,  by  the  way,  that  there  are  a  great 
many  extensive  plains  in  that  country.  The  woods  in 
general  grew  very  ttiin,  free  from  brush  and  underwood; 
so  that  light  horsemen  may  advance  a  considerable  dis- 
tance before  an  army  without  being  much  exposed  to 
the  enemy. 

Just  as  the  council  ended,  an  express  returned  from 
the  above  mentioned  party  of  light  horse  with  intelli- 
gence'"that  they  had  been  about  three  miles  in  fnmt, 
and  had  seen  a  large  body  of  Indians  running  towards 
them.''  In  a  short  time  we  saw  the  rest  of  the  light 
horse,  wlio  joined  us,  and  having  gone  one  mile  further, 
met  a  number  of  Indians  who  had  partly  got  possession 
of  a  piece  of  woods  before  us,  whilst  we  were  in  the 


(4  ) 


V 


plains ;  but  our  men  alighting  from  their  horses  and 
rushing  into  the  woods,  soon  obliged  them  to  abandon 
that  place. 

The  enemy  being  by  this  time  reinforced,  flanked  to 
the  right,  and  part  of  them  coming  in  nearer,  quickly 
made  the  action  more  serious.  The  firing  continued 
very  warm  on  both  sides  from  four  o'clock  until  the  dusk 
of  the  evening,  each  party  maintaining  their  ground. 
Next  morning,  about  six  o'clock,  their  guns  were  dis- 
charged, at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  hundred  yards, 
which  continued  till  day,  doing  little  or  no  execution  on 
either  side. 

Tiie  field  officers  then  assembled  and  agreed,  as  the 
enemy  v/ere  every  moment  increasing,  and  we  had  al- 
ready a  number  of  wounded,  to  retreat  that  night.  The 
whole  body  was  to  form  into  three  lines,  keeping  the 
wounded  in  the  centre.  We  had  four  killed  and  twenty- 
three  wounded,  of  the  latter,  seven  very  dangerously,  on 
which  account  as  many  biers  were  got  ready  to  carry 
them ;  most  of  the  rest  were  sliglitly  wounded  and  none 
so  bad  l)iit  they  couhl  ride  on  horseback.  After  dark 
the  officers  went  on  the  out-poi-ts  and  brought  in  all  the 
men  as  expeditiously  as  they  could.  Just  as  the  troops 
were  about  to  form,  several  guns  were  fired  by  the  enemy, 
ui)on  which  some  of  our  men  sj)oke  out  and  said  our  in- 
tention was  discovered  by  tlie  Indians  who  were  firing 
alarm  guns.  Uj)on  which  some  in  front  hurr"  3d  off  and 
the  rest  immediately  followed,  leaving  the  seven  men 
that  were  dangerously  wounded,  some  of  whom  however 
got  off  on  horseback,  by  means  of  some  good  friends, 
who  waited  for,  and  assisted  them. 

We  had  not  got  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  field  of 
action  when  I  heard  col.  Crawford  calling  for  his  son, 


(5) 

John  Crawford,  his  son-in-law,  major  Harripon,  major 
Rose  and  William  Crawford,  his  nephews,  upon  which 
I  came  up  and  told  him  I  believed  they  were  on  before 
us. — He  asked  is  that  the  doctor? — I  told  him  it  was — 
he  then  replied  the}""  were  not  in  front,  and  begged  of 
me  not  to  leave  him. — I  promised  him  I  would  not. 

We  then  waited  and  continued  calling  for  these  men 
till  the  troops  had  passed  us.  The  colonel  told  me  his 
horse  had  almost  given  out,  that  he  could  not  keej)  up 
with  the  troops,  and  wished  some  of  his  best  friends  to 
remain  with  him:  he  then  exclaimed  against  the 
militia  for  riding  off  in  such  an  irregular  manner,  and 
leaving  some  of  the  wounded  behind,  contrary  to  his 
orders.  Presently  there  came  two  men  riding  after  us, 
one  of  them  an  old  man,  the  other  a  lad,  we  en(iuired 
if  they  had  seen  any  of  the  above  persons?  and  they 
answered  they  had  not. 

By  this  time  there  was  a  very  hot  firing  before  us,  and 
as  we  judged,  near  where  our  main  body  must  have 
been.  Our  course  was  then  nearly  southwest,  but 
changing  it,  we  went  north  about  two  miles,  the  two 
men  remaining  in  company  with  us.  Judging  ourselves 
to  be  now  out  of  the  enemy's  lines,  we  took  a  due  east 
course,  taking  care  to  keep  at  the  distance  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  yards  apart,  and  directing  ourselves  by  the 
north  star. 

The  old  man  often  lagged  behind,  and  when  this  was 
the  ease,  never  failed  to  call  for  us  to  halt  for  him. 
When  we  were  near  the  Sandusky  Creek  he  fell  one 
hundred  yards  behind,  and  bawled  out,  as  usual,  for  us 
to  halt.  While  we  v/ere  prei)aring  to  reprimand  him 
for  making  a  noiee,  I  heard  an  Indian  halh  o,  as  I 
thought,  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  man, 


I 


[ 

i 
1 


(fi    ) 

and  partly  behind  him ;  after  this  we  did  not  hear  the 
man  call  again,  neither  did  he  ever  come  up  to  us  any 
more.     It  was  now  past  midnight,  and  about  day -break 
col.  Crawford's  and  the  young  man's  horses  gave  out, 
and  they  left  them.    We  pursued  our  journey  eastward, 
and  about  two  o'clock  fell  in  with  capt.  Biggs,  who  had 
carried  lieut.  Ashly  from  the  field  of  action,  who  had 
been  dangerously  wounded.     We  then  went  on  about 
the  space  of  an  hour,  when  a  heavy  rain  coming  on,  we 
concluded  it  was  best  to  encamp,  as  we  were  encum- 
bered with  the  wounded  officer.    We  then  barked  four 
or  five  trees,   made  an  encampment   and   a   fire,  and 
remained  there  all  that  night.     Next  morning  we  again 
prosecuted  our  journey,  and  having  gone  about  three 
miles  found  a  deer  wliich  had  been  recently  killed.   The 
meat  was  sliced  from  the  bones  and  bundled  up  in  the 
skin,  with  a  tomahawk  lying  by  it.   We  carried  all  with 
us,  and  in  advancing  about  one  mile  further,  e8i)yed  the 
smoke  of  a  fire.    We  then  gave  tlie  wounded  officer  into 
the  charge  of  the  young  man,  directing  him  to  stay 
behind    whilst  the  colonel,   the  captain  and    myself 
walked  up  as  cautiously  as  we  could  toward  tlie  fire. 
When  we  came  to  it,  we  concluded,  from  several  cir- 
cumstances, gome  of  our  j)eople  had  encamped  there 
the  preceding  night.     We  then  went  about  roasting  the 
venison,  and  when  just  about  to  march,  observed  one  of 
our  men  coming  ujion  our  tracks.     He  seemed  at  first 
very  shy,  but  having  called  to  him,  he  came  up  and 
told  us  he  was  the  person  who  had  killed  the  deer,  but 
ui)on  hearing  us  come  up,  was  afraid  of  Indians,  hid  in 
a  thicket  and  made  off.     Upon  this  we  gave  him  some 
bread  and  roasted  venison,  ])roceeded  all  together  on 
our  journey,  and  about  two  o'clock  came  upon  the  paths 


(  7  ) 

by  which  we  had  gone  out.  Capt.  Biggs  and  myself 
did  not  think  it  safe  to  keep  the  road,  but  the  colonel 
said  the  Indians  would  not  follow  the  troops  farther 
than  the  plains,  which  we  were  then  considerably  past. 
As  the  wounded  officer  rode  capt.  Biggs'  horse,  I  lent 
the  caj)tain  mine.  The  colonel  and  myself  went  about 
one  hundred  yards  in  front,  the  captain  and  the 
wounded  officer  in  the  centre,  and  the  two  young  men 
behind.  After  we  had  traveled  about  one  mile  and  a 
half,  several  Indians  started  up  within  fifteen  or  twenty 
steps  of  the  colonel  and  me.  As  we  at  first  discovered 
only  three,  I  immediately  got  behind  a  large  black  oak, 
made  ready  my  piece  and  raised  it  up  to  take  sight, 
when  the  colonel  called  to  me  twice  not  to  fire ;  upon 
that  one  of  the  Indians  ran  up  to  the  colonel  and  took 
him  by  the  hand.  The  colonel  then  told  me  to  put  down 
my  gun  which  I  did.  At  that  instant  one  of  them  came 
up  to  me  whom  I  had  formerly  seen  very  often,  call- 
ing me  doctor  and  took  me  by  the  hand.  They 
were  Delaware  Indians  of  the  Wingenim  tribe.  Cap- 
tain Biggs  fired  amongst  them  but  did  no  execu- 
tion. They  then  told  us  to  call  these  people  and  make 
them  come  there,  else  they  would  go  and  kill  them, 
wliich  the  colonel  did,  but  they  four  got  oil"  and  escaped 
for  that  time.  The  colonel  and  I  were  then  taken  to 
the  Indian  camp,  which  was  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
place  where  we  were  captivated.  On  Sunday  evening 
five  Delawares  who  had  posted  themselves  at  some  dis- 
tance further  on  the  road  brought  back  to  the  camp, 
where  we  lay,  caj)tain  Biggs'  and  lieutenant  Ashley's 
scalps,  with  an  Indian  scalp  which  captain  Biggs  had 
taken  in  the  field  of  action;  they  also  brought  in  Bifrgs' 


f       i 


l| 


(8) 

horse  and  mine,  they  told  us  the  other  two  got  away 
from  them. 

Monday  morning,  the  tenth  of  June,  we  were  paraded 
to  march  to  Sandusky,  about  33  miles  distant;  they 
had  eleven  prisoners  of  us  and  four  scalps  the  Indians 
being  seventeen  in  number. 

Colonel  Crawford  was  very  desirous  to  see  a  certain 
Simeon  Girty,  who  lived  among  the  Indians,  and  was  on 
this  account  permitted  to  go  to  town  the  same  night> 
with  two  warriors  to  guard  him,  having  orders  at  the 
same  time  to  pass  by  the  place  where  the  colonel  had 
turned  out  his  horse,  that  they  might  if  possible,  find 
him.  The  rest  of  us  were  taken  as  far  as  the  old  town 
which  was  within  eight  miles  of  the  new. 

Tuesday  morning,  the  11th,  colonel  Crawford  was 
brought  out  to  us  on  purpose  to  be  marched  in  with  the 
other  prisoners.  I  asked  the  colonel  if  he  had  seen  Mr. 
Girty? — He  told  me  he  had,  and  that  Girty  had 
promised  to  do  every  thing  in  his  power  for  him,  but 
that  the  Indians  were  very  much  enraged  against  the 
prisoners ;  particularly  captain  Pipe  one  of  the  chiefs ; 
he  likewise  told  me  that  Girty  had  informed  him  that 
his  son-in-law,  colonel  Harrison,  and  his  nephew  William 
Crawford,  wore  made  prisoners  by  the  Shawanese,  but 
had  been  pardoned.  This  captain  Pipe  had  come  from  the 
towns  about  an  hour  before  colonel  Crawford,  and  had 
painted  all  the  prisoners'  faces  black. 

As  he  was  painting  me  he  told  me  I  should  go  to  the 
Shawanese  towns  and  see  my  friends.  When  the  colonel 
arrived  he  painted  him  black  also,  told  him  he  was  glad 
to  see  him  anct-  that  he  would  have  him  shaved  when 
he  came  to  see  his  friends  at  the  Wyandot  town.  When 
we  marched,  the  colonel  and  I  were  kept  back  between 


I 


(9  ) 


^* 


Pipe  and  Wyngenim,  the  two  Delaware  chiefs,  the  other 
nine  prisoners  were  sent  forward  with  another  party  of 
Indians.  As  went  along  we  saw  four  of  the  prisoners 
lying  by  the  path  tomahawked  and  scalped,  some  of  them 
were  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile  from  each  other.  When 
we  arrived  within  half  a  mile  of  the  place  where  the 
colonel  was  executed,  we  overtook  the  five  prisoners  that 
remained  alive;  the  Indians  had  caused  them  to  sit  down 
on  the  ground,  as  they  did  also  the  colonel  and  me  at 
some  distance  from  them.  I  was  there  given  in  charge 
to  an  Indian  fellow  to  be  taken  to  the  Shawanese  towns. 

In  the  place  where  we  were  now  made  to  sit  down 
there  was  a  number  of  squaws  and  boys,  who  fell  on  the 
five  prisoners  and  tomahawked  them.  There  was  a  cer- 
tain John  M'Kinley  amongst  the  prisoners,  formerly  an 
officer  in  the  13th  Virginia  regiment,  whose  head  an  old 
squaw  cut  ort",  and  the  Indians  kicked  it  about  upon  the 
ground.  The  young  Indian  fellows  came  often  where 
the  colonel  and  I  were,  and  dashed  the  scalps  in  our 
faces.  We  were  then  conducted  along  toward  the  place 
where  the  colonel  was  afterwards  executed;  when  we 
came  within  about  half  a  mile  of  it,  Simeon  Girty  met 
us,  with  several  Indians  on  horseback ;  he  spoke  to  the 
colonel,  but  as  I  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
behind  could  not  hear  what  passed  between  them. 

Almost  every  Indian  we  met  struck  us  either  with 
sticks  or  their  fists.  Girty  waited  till  I  was  brought  up 
and  asked,  was  that  the  doctor? — I  told  him  yes,  arA 
went  toward  him  reaching  out  my  hand,  but  he  bid  me 
begone,  and  called  me  a  damn'd  rascal ;  upon  which  the 
fellows  who  had  me  in  charge  pulled  me  along.  Girty 
rode  up  after  me  and  told  me  I  was  to  go  to  the  Shaw- 
anese towns. 


(  10  ) 


'. 


I 


When  we  were  come  to  the  fire  the  colonel  was  stripped 
naked,  ordered  to  sit  down  by  the  fire,  and  then  they 
beat  him  with  sticks  and  their  fists.  Presently  after  I 
was  treated  in  the  same  manner.  They  then  tied  a  rope 
to  the  foot  of  a  post  about  fifteen  feet  high,  bound  the 
colonel's  hands  behind  hia  back  and  fastened  the  rope 
to  the  ligature  between  his  wrists.  The  rope  was  long 
enough  either  for  him  to  sit  down  or  walk  round  the  post 
once  or  twice  and  return  the  same  way.  The  colonel 
then  called  to  Girty  and  asked  if  they  intended  to  burn 
him? — Girty  answered,  yes.  The  colonel  said  he  would 
take  it  all  patiently.  Upon  this  Captain  Pipe,  a  Dela- 
ware chief,  made  a  speech  to  the  Indians,  viz:  about 
thirty  or  forty  men,  sixty  or  seventy  squaws  and  boys. 

When  the  speech  was  finished  they  all  yelled  a  hideous 
and  hearty  assent  to  what  had  been  said.  The  Indian 
men  then  took  up  their  guns  and  shot  powder  into  the 
colonel's  body,  from  his  feet  as  far  up  as  his  neck.  I 
think  not  less  than  seventy  loads  were  discharged  upon 
his  naked  body.  Then  they  crowded  about  him,  and  to 
the  best  of  my  observation,  cut  off  his  ears ;  when  the 
throng  had  dispersed  a  little  I  saw  the  blood  running 
from  both  sides  of  his  head  in  consequence  thereof. 

The  fire  was  about  six  or  seven  yards  from  the  post  to 
which  the  colonel  was  tied ;  it  was  made  of  small  hickory 
poles,  burnt  quite  through  in  the  middle,  each  end  of 
the  poles  remaining  about  six  feet  in  length.  Three  or 
four  Indians  by  turns  would  take  up,  individually,  one 
of  these  burning  pieces  of  wood  and  apply  it  to  his 
naked  body,  already  burned  black  with  powder.  These 
tormentors  presented  themselves  on  every  side  of  him, 
so  that  which  ever  way  he  ran  round  the  post  they  met  him 
with  the  burning  faggots  and  poles.    Some  of  the  st^uaws 


i 


( 11 ) 


or 
me 
Ihis 
lese 
m, 
lim 
Iws 


^ 


took  Itroad  boards,  upon  which  they  would  carry  a 
quantity  of  burning  coals  and  hot  embers  and  throw  on 
him,  so  that  in  a  sliort  time  he  had  nothing  but  coals  of 
fire  and  hot  ashes  to  walk  upon. 

In  the  midst  of  these  extreme  tortures,  he  called  to 
Simeon  Girty  and  begged  of  him  to  shoot  him;  but 
Girty  making  no  answer  he  called  to  him  again.  Girty 
then,  by  way  of  derision,  told  the  colonel  that  he  had 
no  gun,  at  tlie  same  time  turning  about  to  a  .  Indian 
who  was  behind  him,  laughed  heartily,  and  by  all  his 
gestures  seemed  delighted  at  the  liorrid  scene. 

Girty  then  came  up  to  me  and  bade  me  prepare  for 
death.  He  said,  however,  I  was  not  to  die  at  that  place, 
but  to  be  burnt  at  the  Shawanese  towns.  He  sworo  by 
G — d  I  need  not  expect  to  escape  death,  but  should 
suifer  it  in  all  its  extremities. 

He  then  observed,  that  some  prisoners  had  given  him 
to  understand,  that  if  our  people  had  him  they  would 
not  hurt  him;  for  his  part,  he  said,  he  did  not  believe 
it,  but  desired  to  know  my  opinion  of  the  matter;  but 
being  at  that  time  in  great  anguish  and  distress  for  the 
torments  the  colonel  was  suffering  before  my  eyes,  as 
well  as  the  expectation  of  undergoing  the  same  fate  in 
two  days,  I  made  little  or  no  answer.  He  expressed  a 
great  deal  of  ill  will  for  colonel  Gibson,  and  said  he  was 
one  of  his  greatest  ensmies,  and  more  to  the  same  pur- 
pose, to  all  which  I  i)ai(l  very  little  attention. 

Colonel  Crawford  at  this  period  of  his  sufferings,  be- 
sought the  Almighty  to  have  mercy  on  his  soul,  spoke 
very  low,  and  bore  his  torments  with  the  most  manly 
fortitude.  He  continued  in  all  tlie  extremities  of  pain 
for  an  hour  and  three  quarters,  or  two  hours  longer,  as 
near  as  I  can  judge,  when  at  last,  being  almost  exhausted. 


ll 


I 


li ' 


I  i 


Hi 

I*  ■  * 

lllf 

iMr. 
I. 


(  12) 

he  lay  down  on  his  belly ;  they  then  scalped  him  and 
repeatedly  threw  the  scalp  in  my  face,  telling  me  "that 
was  my  great  captain." — An  old  squaw  (whose  appear- 
ance every  way  answered  the  ideas  people  entertain  of 
the  devil)  got  a  board,  took  a  parcel  of  coals  and  ashes 
and  laid  them  on  his  back  and  head,  sifter  he  had  been 
scalped;  he  then  raised  himself  upon  his  feet  and  began 
to  walk  round  the  post;  they  next  put  a  burning  stick 
to  him  as  usual,  but  he  seemed  more  insensible  of  pain 
than  before. 

The  Indian  fellow  who  had  me  in  charge,  now  took 
me  away  to  captain  Pipe's  house,  about  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  from  the  place  of  the  colonel's  execution.  I 
was  bound  all  night,  and  thus  prevented  from  seeing  the 
last  of  the  horrid  sjiectacle.  Next  morning,  being  June 
12th,  the  Indian  untied  me,  painted  me  black,  and  we 
set  off  for  the  Shawanese  town,  wliich  lie  told  me  was 
somewhat  less  than  forty  miles  from  that  j)lace.  We 
soon  came  to  the  spot  where  the  colonel  had  been  burnt, 
as  it  was  ])artly  in  our  way;  I  saw  his  bones  laying 
amongst  the  remains  of  the  fire,  almost  burnt  to  ashes; 
I  suppose  after  he  was  dead  they  had  laid  his  body  on 
the  fire. 

The  Indian  told  me  that  was  my  Big  Captain,  and 
give  the  scaip  halloo.  He  was  on  horseback  and  drove 
me  before  him. 

I  pretended  to  this  Indian  I  was  ignorant  of  the  death 
I  was  to  die  at  tlie  Shawanese  town,  assumed  as  cheer- 
ful a  countenmce  as  possible,  and  asked  him  if  we  were 
not  to  live  together  as  brothers  in  one  house,  when  we 
should  get  to  town?  He  seemed  well  i)leased,  and  said 
yes.  He  then  asked  me  if  I  could  make  a  wigwam  ? — 
I  told  him  I  could — he  then  seemed  more  friendly — we 


ii 


I 


(  13) 

went  that  day  as  near  as  I  can  judge  about  25  miles, 
the  course  partly  southwest — The  Indian  told  me  we 
should  next  day  come  to  the  town,  the  sun  being  in  such 
a  direction,  pointing  nearly  south.     At  night,   when 
we  went  to  rest,  I  attempted  very  often  to  unty  myself, 
but  the  Indian  was  extremely  vigilant  and  scarce  ever 
shut  his  eyes  that  night.     About  daybreak  he  got  up  and 
untied  me  ;  lie  next  began  to  mend  up  the  fire,  and  as 
the  gnats  were  troublesome  I  asked  him  if  I  should  make 
a  smoke  behind  him — ho  said,  yes.     I  then  took  the  end 
of  a  dogwood  fork  which  had  been  burnt  down  to  about 
18  inches  long;  it  was  the  longest  stick  I  could  find,  yet 
too  small  for  the  purpose  I  had  in  view;  then  I  ])icked 
up  another  smaller  stick  and  taking  a  coal  of  fire  between 
them  went  behind  him;  then  turning  suddenly  about, 
I  struck  him  on  the  head  with  all  the  force  I  was  master 
of;  Ni'hich  so  stunned  him  that  he  fell  forward  with  both 
his  hands  into  the  fire,  but  seeing  him  recover  and  get 
up,  I  seized  his  gun  while  he  ran  off  howling  in  u  most 
fearful  manner. — I  followed  him  with  a  determination 
to  shoot  him  down,  but  pulling  back  the  cock  of  the 
gun  with  too  great  violence,  I  believe  I  broke  the  main 
spring.     I  pursued  him,  however,  about  thirty  yards, 
still  endeavouring  to  fire  the  gun,  but  could  not;  then 
going  back  to  the  fire  I  took  his  blanket,  :i  i)air  of  new 
mokkisons,hishopi)es,  j>()W(ler  horn,  bullet  bag,  (together 
with  the  gun)  and  marched  off,  tlirecting  my  course 
toward  the  five  o'clock  mark  :  ahout  half  an  hour  before 
sunset  I  came  to  the  plains  whicii  I  think  are  about  six- 
teen miles  wide.     1  laid  me  down  in  ii  thicket  till  dark, 
and  then  by  the  assistance  of  the  north  star  made  m^' 
way  through  them  and  got  into  the  wooJs  ))efore  morn- 
ing.    I  proceeded  on  the  next  day,  and  about  noon 


i 


(  14  ) 


!, 


if 


'0' 


! 


crossed  the  paths  by  which  our  troops  had  gone  out ; 
these  paths  are  nearly  east  and  west,  but  I  went  due 
north  all  that  atternoon  with  a  view  to  avoid  the  enemy. 
In  the  evening  I  began  to  be  very  faint,  and  no  wonder ; 
I  had  l)een  six  days  prisoner;  the  last  two  days  of  which 
I  had  eat  nothing,  and  but  very  little  the  firt-t  three  or 
four;  there  were  wild  gooseberries  in  abundance  in  the 
woods,  but  being  unripe,  required  mastication,  which  at 
that  time  I  was  not  able  to  perform  on  account  of  a  blow 
received  from  an  Indian  on  the  jaw  with  the  back  of  a 
tomahawk.  There  was  a  weed  that  grew  plentifully  in 
that  place,  the  juice  of  which  I  knew  to  be  grateful  and 
nourishing;  I  gathered  a  bundle  of  the  same,  took  up 
my  lodging  under  a  large  spreading  beach  tree  and  hav- 
ing sucked  plentifully  of  the  juice,  went  to  sleep.  Next 
day,  I  made  a  due  east  course  which  I  generally  kept 
the  rest  of  my  journey.  I  often  imagined  my  gun  was 
only  wood  bound,  and  tried  every  method  I  could 
devise  to  unscrew  the  lock  but  never  could  effect  it,  hav- 
ing no  knife  nor  anything  fitting  for  the  purpose;  I  had 
now  the  satisfaction  to  find  my  jaw  began  to  mend,  and 
in  four  or  five  days  could  chew  any  vegetable  proper  for 
nourishment,  but  finding  my  gun  only  a  useless  burden, 
left  her  in  the  wilderness.  I  had  no  apparatus  for  making 
fire  to  sleep  by,  so  that  I  could  get  but  little  rest  for  the 
gnats  and  musketoes ;  there  are  likewise  a  great  many 
swamps  in  tlie  beach  ridge,  which  occasioned  me  very 
often  to  lie  wet;  this  ridge,  through  which  I  traveled,  is 
about  twenty  miles  broad,  the  ground  in  general  very 
level  and  rich,  free  from  shrubs  and  brush ;  there  are, 
however,  very  few  springs,  yet  wells  might  easily  be  dug 
in  all  parts  of  the  ridge;  the  timber  on  it  is  very  lofty, 
but  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  make  a  straight  course  through 


i 


\i 


n 


(  15) 

the  same,  the  moss  growing  as  high  upon  the  South 
side  of  the  trees  as  on  the  North.  There  are  a  great 
many  white  oaks,  ash  and  liickory  trees  that  grow  among 
the  beach  timber  ;  there  are  likewise  some  i)hiccs  on  the 
ridge,  perhaps  for  three  or  four  continued  miles  where 
there  is  little  or  no  beach, and  in  such  spots,  black,  white 
oak,  ash,  and  hickory  abound.  Sugar  trees  grow  there 
also  to  a  very  great  bulk — the  soil  is  remarkably  good, 
the  ground  a  little  ascending  and  descending  with  some 
small  rivulets  and  a  few  springs.  When  I  got  out  of  the 
beach  ridge  and  nearer  the  river  Muskingum,  the  lands 
were  more  broken  but  equally  rich  with  those  before  men- 
tioned, and  abounding  with  brooks  and  springs  of  water ; 
there  are  also  severed  small  creeks  that  empty  into  that 
river,  the  bed  of  which  is  more  than  a  mile  wide  in 
many  places ;  the  woods  consist  of  white  and  black  oak, 
walnut,  hickory  and  sugar  trees  in  the  greatest  abund- 
ance. In  all  parts  of  the  country  through  which  I  came 
the  game  was  very  plenty,  that  is  to  say,  deer,  turkies 
and  pheasants  ;  I  likewise  saw  a  great  many  vestiges  of 
bears  and  some  elks. 

I  crossed  the  river  Muskingum  about  three  or  four 
miles  below  Fort  Laurence,  and  crossing  all  [)aths  aimed 
for  the  Ohio  river.  All  this  time  my  food  was  goose- 
berries, young  nettles,  the  juice  of  herbs,  a  few  service 
berries,  and  some  May  apples,  likewise  two  young  black- 
birds and  a  turripine,  which  I  devoured  raw.  When 
my  food  sat  heavy  on  my  stomach,  I  used  to  eat  a  little 
wild  ginger  which  put  all  to  rights. 

I  came  upon  Ohio  river  about  live  miles  ])eU)w 
fort  M'lntosh,  in  the  evening  of  the  21stday  after  I  bad 
made  my  escape,  and  on  the  22(1  about  seven  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  being  the  Ith  day  of  July,  arrived  safe, 
though  very  much  fatigued,  at  the  fort. 


(  16) 


V. 


A  SHORT  MEMOIR 


OF 


COLONEL    CRAWFORD, 


COLONEL  Crawford,  was  about  50  years  of  age,  iiad 
been  an  old  warrior  against  the  savages.  He  distin- 
guished himself  early  as  a  volunteer  in  the  last  war,  and 
was  taken  notice  of  by  colonel  (now  general)  Washington, 
who  procured  for  him  the  commission  of  ensign.  As  a 
partisan  he  showed  himself  very  active,  and  was  greatly 
successful :  He  took  several  Indian  towns,  and  did  great 
service  in  scouting,  i)atrolling  and  defending  tlie  fron- 
tiers. At  the  commencement  of  this  war  he  raised  a 
regiment  in  tlie  back  country  l>y  his  own  exertions  :  He 
had  the  commission  of  colonel  in  the  continental  army, 
and  acted  bravely  on  several  occasions  in  the  years  1770, 
1777,  and  at  otlier  times.  He  lield  his  commission  at 
the  time  he  took  command  of  the  militia  in  the  afore- 
said expedition  against  the  Indians;  most  probably  he 
had  it  with  him  when  he  was  taken:  He  was  a  man  of 
good  judgment,  singular  good  nature,  and  great  human- 
ity, and  remarkable  for  his  hospitality,  few  strangers 
coming  to  the  western  country,  and  not  spending  some 
diiys  at  the  crossings  of  the  Yochaghany  river  where  he 
lived ;  no  man  therefore  could  b(!  more  regretted. 


(  17  ) 


THE 


NARRATIVE  of  JOHN  SLOVER. 


HAVING  in  the  last  war  been  a  prisoner  amongst  the 
Indians  many  years,  and  so  being  well  acquainted 
with  the  country  west  of  the  Ohio,  I  was  employed  as  a 
guide  in  the  expedition  under  col.  William  Crawford 
against  the  Indian  towns  on  ornear  the  river  Sandusky. 
It  will  be  unnecessary  for  me  to  relate  what  is  so  well 
known,  the  circumstances  and  unfortunate  event  of  that 
expedition;  itwillbesufficient  to  observe, that  having  on 
Tuesday  the  fourth  of  June,  fought  the  enemy  near  San- 
dusky, we  lay  that  night  in  our  camp,  and  the  next  day 
fired  on  each  other  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred 
yards,  doing  little  or  no  execution.  In  the  evening  of 
that  day  it  was  proposed  by  colonel  Crawford,  as  I  have 
since  been  informed,  to  draw  otf  with  order;  but  at  the 
moment  of  our  retreat  the  Indians  (  who  had  i)robably 
perceived  that  we  were  about  to  retire)  liring  alarm  guns 
our  men  broke  and  rode  off  in  confusion,  treading  down 
those  who  were  on  foot,  and  leaving  the  wounded  men 
who  supplicated  to  be  taken  with  them. 

I  was  with  some  others  on  the  rear  of  our  trooi)S 
feeding  our  horses  in  the  glade,  when  our  men  began  to 
break :  The  main  body  of  our  people  had  passed  by  me 
a  considerable  distance  before  1  was  ready  to  set  out.  1 
overtook  them  before  they  crossed  the  glade,  and  was 
advanced  almost  in  front.  The  company  in  which  I 
was  had  separated  from  me,  and  had  endeavoured  to  pass 


I 


'l ) 


4' 


n 


(  18  ) 

a  morass,  for  coming  up  I  found  their  horses  had  stuck 
fast  in  the  morass,  and  endeavouring  to  pass,  mine  also 
in  a  short  time  stuck  fast.  I  ought  to  have  said,  the 
company  of  five  or  six  men  with  which  I  had  been  im- 
mediately connected,  and  who  were  some  distance  to  the 
right  of  the  main  body,  had  separated  from  me,  S:c.  I 
tried  a  long  time  to  disengage  my  horse,  until  I  could 
hear  the  enemy  just  behind  me,  and  on  each  side,  but 
in  vain.  Here  then  I  was  obliged  to  leave  him.  The 
morass  was  so  unstable  that  I  was  to  the  middle  in  it, 
and  it  was  with  the  greatest  difliculty  that  I  got  across 
it,  but  which  having  at  length  done,  1  came  up  with  the 
six  men  who  had  left  their  liorses  in  the  same  manner  I 
had  done ;  two  of  these,  my  companions,  having  lost 
their  guns. 

We  travelled  that  night,  making  our  course  towards 
Detroit,  with  a  view  to  shun  the  enemy,  who  we  con- 
ceived to  have  taken  the  paths  by  which  the  main  body 
of  our  people  had  retreated.  Just  before  day  we  got  into 
a  second  deep  morass,  and  were  under  the  necessity  of 
detaining  until  it  was  light  to  see  our  way  through  it. 
The  whole  of  this  day  we  travelled  towards  the  Hhawa- 
nese  towns,  with  a  view  of  throwing  ourselves  still  farther 
out  of  the  search  of  the  enemy.  About  ten  o'clock  this 
day  we  sat  down  to  eat  a  little,  having  tasted  notliing 
from  Tuesday,  the  day  of  our  engagement,  until  this 
time  which  was  on  Thursday,  and  now  the  only  thing 
we  had  to  eat  was  a  scrap  of  j)ork  to  each.  We  had  sat 
down  by  a  warrior's  i)ath  which  we  had  not  suspected, 
when  eight  or  nine  warriors  appeared.  Running  off 
hastily  we  left  our  baggage  and  provision,  but  were  not 
di^^covered  by  the  party;  for  skulking  some  time  in  the 
jiry.  «s^  and  bi  shes,  we  returned  to  the  place  and  recovered 


(  19  ) 

our  baggajye.  The  warriors  had  hallooed  as  they  passed, 
and  were  answered  by  others  on  our  flanks. 

In  our  journey  through  the  glades,  or  wide  extended 
dry  meadows,  about  twelve  o'clock  this  day,  we  dis- 
covered a  party  of  Indians  in  front,  but  skulking  in  the 
grass  and  ])Ushe8  were  not  perceived  by  them.  In  these 
glades  we  were  in  great  danger,  as  we  could  be  seen  at  a 
great  distance.  In  the  afternoon  of  this  day  there  fell  a 
heavy  rain,  the  coldest  I  ever  felt.  We  halted  while  it 
rained,  and  then  tnvelling  on  we  saw  a  party  of  the 
enemy  about  two  hundred  yards  before  us,  but  hiding 
ourselves  in  the  bushes  we  had  again  the  good  fortune 
not  to  be  discovered.  This  night  we  got  out  of  the  glades, 
having  in  the  night  crossed  the  i)aths  by  which  we  had 
advanced  to  Sandusky.  It  was  our  design  to  leave  all 
these  paths  to  the  right  and  to  come  in  by  the  Tuscarawas. 
W'e  should  have  made  a  much  greater  progress,  had  it 
not  been  for  two  of  our  companions  who  were  lame,  the 
one  having  his  foot  burnt,  the  other  with  a  swelling  in 
his  knee  of  a  rheumatic  nature. 

On  this  day,  which  was  the  second  after  the  retreat, 
one  of  our  company,  the  person  affected  with  the  rheu- 
matic swelling,  was  left  behind  some  distance  in  a  swamp. 
Waiting  for  him  some  time  we  saw  him  coming  within 
one  hundred  yards,  as  I  sat  on  the  body  of  an  old  tree 
mending  my  mokkisins,  but  taking  my  eye  from  him  I 
saw  him  no  more.  He  had  not  observed  our  tracks,  but 
had  gone  a,  different  way.  ^^'e  whistled  on  our  chargers, 
and  afterwards  hallooed  for  him,  but  in  vain.  Never- 
theless he  was  fortunate  in  missing  us,  for  he  afterwards 
came  safe  into  Wheeling.  We  travelled  on  until  night, 
and  were  on  the  waters  of  Muskingum  from  the  middle 
of  this  (lav. 


I 


(  20  ) 

Having  catched  a  fawn  this  day,  we  made  a  fire  in  the 
evening  and  liad  a  repast,  having  in  the  meantime  eat 
nothing  but  the  small  bit  of  pork  I  mentioned  before. 
We  set  off  at  break  of  day.  About  nine  o'clock  the 
third  day  we  fell  in  with  a  party  of  the  enemy  about 
twenty  miles  from  the  Tuscarawas,  which  is  about  135 
miles  from  Fort  Pitt.  They  had  come  ui)on  our  tracks 
or  had  been  on  our  flanks  and  discovered  us,  and  then 
having  got  before,  had  waylaid  us,  and  fired  before  we 
perceived  them.  At  the  first  fire  one  of  my  companions 
fell  before  me,  and  another  just  behind;  these  two  had 
guns ;  there  were  six  men  in  company,  and  four  guns, 
two  of  these  rendered  useless  by  reason  of  the  wet  when 
coming  through  the  swamp  the  first  night;  we  had  tried 
to  discharge  them,  but  could  not.  When  the  Indians 
fired  I  ran  to  a  tree,  but  an  Indian  presenting  himself 
fifteen  yards  before  me,  directed  me  to  deliver  myself  up 
and  I  should  not  be  hurt:  My  gun  was  in  good  order, 
but  apprehending  the  enemy  behind  might  discharge 
their  pieces  at  me,  I  did  not  risk  firing,  which  I  had 
afterwards  reason  to  regret  when  I  found  what  was  to 
be  my  fati\  and  that  the  Indian  who  was  before  me  and 
presented  his  gun,  was  one  of  those  who  had  just  before 
fired.  Two  of  my  companions  were  taken  with  mo  in 
the  same  manner,  the  Indians  assuring  us  we  should 
not  be  hurt.  IJut  one  in  company,  James  Paul,  who 
had  a  gun  in  order,  made  his  escape  and  has  since  come 
into  Wheeling.  One  of  these  Indians  know  me,  and 
was  of  the  party  by  whom  I  was  taken  in  the  last  war. 
He  came  up  and  spoke  to  me  calling  me  by  my  Indian 
name,  Mannuchcotheo,  and  upbraiding  me  for  coming 
to  war  against  them. 


(  21  ) 


r* 
n 


I  will  take  a  moment  here  to  relate  some  particulars 
of  my  first  captivity  and  my  life  since.  I  was  taken 
from  New  River  in  Virginia  by  the  Miamese,  a  nation 
by  us  called  the  Picts,  among  whon.  I  lived  six  years, 
afterwards  being  sold  to  a  Delaware  and  by  him  put  into 
the  hands  of  a  trader,  I  was  carried  amongst  the  Shaw- 
anese,  with  whom  I  continued  six  years;  so  that  my 
whole  time  amongst  these  nntions  was  twelve  years,  that 
is,  from  the  eighth  to  the  twentieth  year  of  my  age.  At 
the  treaty  at  P'ort  Pitt,  in  the  fall  preceding  what  is 
called  Dunmore's  War,  which  if  I  am  right,  was  in  the 
year  1773,  I  came  in  with  the  Siiawanese  nation  to  the 
treaty,  and  meeting  with  some  of  my  relations  at  that 
place,  was  by  them  solicited  to  relin<iuish  the  life  of  a 
savage,  which  I  did  Avith  some  reluctance,  this  manner 
of  life  having  become  natural  to  me,  inasmuch  as  I  had 
scarcely  known  any  other.  I  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the 
continental  army  at  the  commencement  of  the  present 
war,  and  served  fifteen  months.  Having  been  properly 
discharged  I  have  since  married,  have  a  family  and  am 
in  communion  with  the  church. 

To  return :  The  party  by  whom  we  were  made  j)risoners 
had  taken  some  horses,  and  left  them  at  the  glades  we 
had  passed  the  day  before.  They  had  followed  on  our 
tracks  from  these  glades ;  on  our  return  to  which  we  found 
the  horses  and  rode.  We  were  carried  to  Wachatomakak, 
a  town  of  the  Mingoes  and  Shavvanese.  I  think  it  was 
on  the  third  day  we  reached  the  town,  which  when  we 
were  approaching,  the  Indians  in  whose  custody  we  were, 
began  to  look  sour,  having  been  kind  to  us  before,  and 
given  us  a  little  meat  and  tlour  to  eat,  which  they  had 
found  or  taken  from  some  of  our  men  on  their  retreat. 
This  town  is  small  and  we  were  told  was  about  two 


■■■i 


I 


(  22) 

miles  distant  from  the  main  town  to  which  they  intended 
to  carry  us. 

The  inhabitants  from  this  town  came  out  with  clubs 
and  tomahawks,  struck,  beat  and  abused  us  greatly. 
One  of  my  two  companions  they  seized,  and  having 
stripped  him  naked,  blacked  him  with  coal  and  water. 
This  was  the  sign  of  being  burnt;  the  man  seemed  to 
surmise  it,  and  shed  tears.  He  asked  me  the  meaning 
of  his  being  blacked ;  but  I  was  forbid  by  the  enemy  in 
their  own  language,  to  tell  him  what  was  intended.  In 
English,  which  they  spoke  easily,  having  been  often  at 
Fort  Pitt,  they  assured  him  he  was  not  to  be  hurt.  I 
know  of  no  reason  for  making  him  the  first  object  of 
their  cruelty,  unless  it  was  tliat  he  was  the  oldest. 

A  warrior  had  been  sent  to  the  great  town  to  acquaint 
them  with  our  coming  and  prepare  them  for  the  frolic; 
for  on  our  coming  to  it,  the  inhabitants  came  out  with 
guns,  clubs  and  tomahawks.  We  were  told  that  we  had 
to  run  to  the  council  house,  about  three  hundred  3'ards. 
The  man  that  was  blacked  was  about  twenty  yards  be- 
fore us,  in  running  the  gauntlet:  They  made  him  their 
principal  object,  men,  women  and  children  beating  him, 
and  those  who  had  guns  firing  loads  of  powder  on  him 
as  he  run  naked,  putting  tlie  muzzles  of  the  guns  to  his 
body,  shouting,  hallooing  and  beating  their  drums  in  the 
mean  time. 

The  unhappy  man  had  reached  the  door  of  the  council 
house,  beat  and  wounded  in  a  manner  shocking  to  the 
sij^ht;  for  having  arrived  before  him  we  had  it  in  our 
power  to  view  the  spectacle — it  was  indeed  the  most 
horrid  that  can  be  conceived.  They  had  cut  him  with 
their  tomahawks,  shot  his  l)ody  black,  burnt  it  into  holes 
with  loads  of  powder  blown  into  him;  a  large  wadding 


(  23  ) 


iil 
le 
ir 

5t 


had  made  a  wound  in  his  shoulder  whence  the  blood 
gushed. 

Agreeable  to  the  declaration  of  the  enemy,  when  he 
first  set  out  he  had  reason  to  think  himself  secure  when 
he  had  reached  the  door  of  the  council  house.  This 
seemed  to  be  his  hope,  for  coming  up  with  great  strug- 
gling and  endeavour,  he  laid  hold  of  the  door  bat  was 
pulled  back  and  drawn  away  by  them;  finding  they 
intended  no  mercy,  but  putting  him  to  death,  he 
attempted  several  times  to  snatch  or  lay  hold  of  some 
of  their  tomahawks,  but  being  weak  could  not  effect  it. 
We  saw  him  borne  off*,  and  they  were  a  long  time  beat- 
ing, wounding,  pursuing  and  killing  him. 

That  same  evening  I  saw  the  dead  body  of  this  man 
close  by  the  council  house.  It  was  mangled  cruelly, 
and  the  blood  mingled  with  the  powder  was  rendered 
black.  The  same  evening  I  saw  him  after  he  had  been 
cut  to  pieces,  and  his  limbs  and  his  head  about  two  hun- 
dred yards  on  the  outside  of  the  town  put  on  poles. 
That  evening  also  I  saw  the  bodies  of  three  others  in 
the  same  black  and  mangled  condition;  these  I  was 
told  had  been  put  to  death  the  same  day,  and  just 
before  we  had  reached  the  town.  Their  bodies  as  they 
lay  were  black,  bloody,  burnt  with  powder.  Two  of 
these  were  Harrison  and  young  Crawford.  I  knew  the 
visage  of  colonel  Harrison,  and  I  saw  his  cloathing  and 
that  of  young  Crawford  at  the  town.  They  brought 
horses  to  me  and  asked  if  I  knew  tliem? — I  said  they 
were  Harrison's  and  Crawford's.     They  said  they  were. 

The  third  of  these  men  I  did  not  know,  but  believe  to 
have  been  colonel  M'CIeland,  the  third  in  command  on 
the  expedition. 


(  24  ) 


The  next  day  the  bodies  of  these  men  were  dragged 
to  the  outside  of  the  town  and  their  carcases  being 
given  to  the  dogs,  their  limbs  and  heads  were  stuck  on 
poles. 

My  surviving  companion  shortly  after  we  had  reached 
the  council  house  was  sent  to  another  town,  and  I  pre- 
sume he  was  burnt  or  executed  in  the  same  manner. 

In  the  evening  the  men  assembled  in  the  council 
house;  this  is  a  large  building  about  fifty  yards  in 
length,  and  about  twenty-five  yards  wide,  and  about 
sixteen  feet  in  height,  built  of  split  poles  covered  with 
bark;  their  first  object  was  to  examine  me,  which  they 
could  do  in  their  own  language,  inasmuch  as  I  could 
speak  the  Miame,  iShawanese  and  Delaware  languages, 
which  I  had  learned  during  my  early  captivity  in  the 
last  war;  I  found  I  had  not  forgotten  these  lan^jjuages, 
especially  the  two  former,  l)eing  able  to  speak  them  as 
well  as  my  native  tongue. 

They  began  with  interrogating  me,  concerning  the 
situation  of  our  country,  wliat  were  our  provisions?  our 
numbers?  the  state  of  the  war  between  us  and  Britain? 
I  informed  them  (brnwallis  had  been  taken,  which 
next  day,  when  Matthew  Elliot  with  James  Girty  came, 
he  afiirmed  to  be  a  lie,  and  the  Indians  seemed  to  give 
full  credit  to  his  declaration. 

Hitherto  I  had  been  treated  with  some  appearance  of 
kindness,  but  now  the  enemy  began  to  alter  their  be- 
haviour towards  me.  Clirty  had  informed  them,  that 
when  he  asked  me  how  I  liked  to  live  there,  I  had  said 
that  I  intended  to  take  the  first  opi)ortunity  to  take  a 
scalp  and  run  ofi".  It  was,  to  be  sure,  very  probable 
that  if  I  had  such  intentions,  I  would  communicate  it 
to  him.     Anotlier  man  came  to  me  and  told  me  a  story 


\ 


! 


I 


(  25) 

of  his  having  lived  on  the  south  branch  of  the  Potow- 
mac  in  Virginia,  and  Imving  three  brothers  there,  he 
pretended  he  wanted  to  get  away,  but  I  suspected  his 
design ;  nevertheless  he  rpi)orted  that  I  had  consented 
to  go.  In  the  meantime  I  was  not  tied,  and  could  have 
escaped,  but  having  nothing  to  put  on  my  feet,  I  waited 
some  time  longer  to  ])rovide  for  this. 

I  was  invited  every  night  to  the  war  dance,  which 
they  usually  continued  until  almost  day.  I  could  not 
comply  with  their  desire,  believing  these  things  to  be 
the  service  of  the  devil. 

The  council  lasted  fifteen  days;  fifty  to  one  hundred 
warriors  being  usually  in  council,  and  sometimes  more. 
Every  warrior  is  admitted  to  these  councils ;  but  only 
tlie  chiefs  or  head  warriors  have  the  privilege  of  speak- 
ing. The  head  warriors  are  accounted  sucli  from  the 
number  of  scalps  and  prisoners  they  have  taken. 

The  third  dav  M'Kee  was  in  council,  and  afterwards 
was  generally  present.  He  spoke  little,  and  did  not 
ask  any  questions  or  speak  to  me  at  all.  He  lives  about 
two  miles  out  of  the  town,  has  a  liouse  built  of  squared 
logs  with  a  shingled  roof;  he  was  dressed  in  gold  laced 
cloaths.  I  had  seen  him  at  the  former  town  through 
which  I  passed. 

I  think  it  was  on  the  last  day  of  the  council,  save  one, 
that  a  speech  came  from  Detroit,  brought  by  a  warrior 
who  had  been  counselling  with  the  cor.mianding  olhcer 
at  that  place.  The  speech  had  been  long  expected,  and 
was  in  answer  to  one  some  time  before  sent  from  the 
town  to  Detroit:  It  was  in  a  belt  of  Wampum,  and 
began  with  addressing  them,  "My  children,"  and  in- 
quiring why  they  continued  to  take  prisoners?  "Pro- 
visions are  scarce;  when  prisoners  are  brought  in  we  are 


(  20  ) 


I  t 


obliged  to  maintain  them,  and  still  some  of  them  are 
running  away  and  carrying  tidings  of  our  affairs.  When 
any  of  your  people  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
they  shew  no  mercy ;  why  then  should  you  take  prison- 
ers? Take  no  more  prisoners,  my  children,  of  ar''  sort; 
man,  woman  or  child." 

Two  days  after,  a  party  of  every  nation  that  was  near 
being  collected,  it  was  determined  on  to  take  no  more 
prisoners  of  any  sort.  Tiiey  had  held  a  large  council, 
and  the  determination  was,  that  if  it  were  possible  they 
could  find  a  child  of  a  span  or  three  inches  long,  they 
would  show  no  mercy  to  it.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
council  it  was  agreed  upon  by  all  the  tribes  present,  viz: 
the  Tiiwaws,  Chiappawaws,  the  Wiondots,  the  Mingoes, 
the  Delawares,  tlie  Shawanese,  the  Munses,  and  a  part 
of  the  Cherokees,  that  should  any  of  the  nations  who 
were  not  present  take  any  prisoner,  these  would  rise 
against  t'\em,  take  away  tiie  prisoners  and  put  them  to 
death. 

In  the  course  of  these  deliberations  I  understood  what 
was  said  perfectly.  They  laid  plans  against  our  settle- 
n\ents  of  Kentucky,  the  Falls,  and  towards  Wheeling. 
These  it  will  be  unnecessary  for  me  to  mention  in  this 
narrative,  more  especially  as  the  Indians  finding  me  to 
have  escaped,  and  knowing  that  I  would  not  fail  to 
communicate  these  designs,  will  be  led  to  alter  their 
resolutions. 

There  was  one  council  held  at  which  I  was  not  present. 
The  warriors  had  sent  for  me  as  usual,  but  the  squaw 
with  whom  I  lived  would  not  suffer  me  to  go,  but  hid 
me  under  a  large  quantit}'  of  skins.  It  may  have  been 
from  an  unwillingness  that  I  should  hear  in  council  the 
determination  with  respect  to  me,  that  I  should  be  burnt. 


(    27     ) 


lis 

to 

to 

eir 


id 
}n 
lie 
It. 


About  this  time,  twelve  men  were  brought  in  from 
Kentucky,  three  of  whom  were  burnt  on  this  day ;  the 
remainder  were  distributed  to  other  towns,  and  all,  as 
the  Indians  informed  me,  were  burnt.  This  was  after 
the  speech  came  from  Detroit. 

On  this  day  also,  I  saw  an  Indian  who  had  just  come 
into  town,  and  who  said  that  the  prisoner  he  was  bring- 
ing to  be  burnt,  and  who  he  said  was  a  doctor,  had  made 
his  escai)e  from  him.  I  knew  this  must  have  been  Dr. 
Knight,  who  went  as  surgeon  of  the  expedition.  The 
Indian  had  a  wound  four  inches  long  in  his  head,  which 
he  acknowledged  the  doctor  had  given  him  ;  he  was  cut 
to  the  scull.  His  story  was  that  he  had  untied  the 
doctor,  being  asked  by  him  to  do  so,  the  doctor  promis- 
ing that  he  would  not  go  away  ;  that  while  he  was  em- 
ployed in  kindling  the  fire  the  doctor  snatched  up  the 
gun,  had  come  behind  and  struck  him;  that  he  then 
made  a  stroke  at  the  doctor  with  his  knife,  whicli  he  laid 
hold  of,  and  his  fingers  were  cut  almost  off,  the  knife 
being  drawn  through  his  hand ;  that  he  gave  the  doctor 
two  stabs,  one  in  the  belly,  the  other  in  the  back  ;  said 
the  doctor  was  a  great,  ])ig,  tall,  strong  man.  lieing  now 
adopted  in  an  Indian  family,  and  having  some  confidence 
for  my  safety,  I  took  the  liberty  to  contradict  this  and 
said  that  I  knew  the  doctor,  who  was  a  weak,  little  man. 
The  other  warriors  laughed  immoderately,  and  did  not 
seem  to  credit  him.  At  this  time  1  was  told  that  colonel 
Crawford  was  burnt,  and  they  greatly  exulted  over  it. 

The  dav  after  the  council  I  have  nientioned,  about 
forty  warriors,  accompani(Ml  by  CJeorge  (tirty,  came  early 
in  the  morning  round  the  house  where  I  was.  The  sfjuaw 
gave  me  up;  I  was  sitting  before  tiie  door  of  the  house; 
they  put  a  rope  round  my  neck,  tied  my  amis  behind 


(  28) 


^H 


my  back,  stripped  me  naked,  and  blacked  rae  in  the 
usual  manner.  George  Girty,  as  soon  as  I  was  tied, 
damned  me,  and  said  that  I  now  should  get  what  I  had 
deserved  many  years.  I  was  led  away  to  a  town  dis- 
tant about  five  miles,  to  which  a  messenger  had  been 
dispatched  to  desire  them  to  prepare  to  receive  me. 
Arrivino;  {\i  this  town,  I  was  beaten  with  clu})s  imd 
the  pipe  ends  of  their  tomahawks,  and  was  kept  for 
some  time  tied  to  a  tree  before  a  house  door.  In  the 
mean  while  the  inhabitants  set  out  to  another  town  about 
two  miles  distant,  where  I  was  to  be  burnt,  and  where  I 
arrived  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Here  also  was  a  council  house,  part  of  it  covered  and 
part  of  it  without  a  roof.  In  the  part  of  it  where  no 
cover  was,  but  only  sides  built  up,  there  stood  a  post 
about  sixteen  feet  in  height,  and  in  the  middle  of  the 
hou'ie  around  the  post,  there  were  three  piles  of  wood 
built  about  three  feet  high  and  four  feet  from  the  post. 
Being  brought  to  the  post  my  arms  were  tied  behind 
me,  and  tlie  thong  f>r  cord  with  which  they  were  bound 
was  fastened  to  the  post;  a  rope  also  was  put  about  my 
neck,  and  tied  to  the  post  about  four  feet  above  my  head. 
During  the  time  they  were  tying  me,  piles  of  wood  were 
kindled  and  began  to  ilame. 

Death  by  burning,  which  appeared  to  be  now  my  fate, 
I  had  resolved  to  sustain  with  ])atience.  The  divine 
grace  of  (tod  had  made  it  less  alarming  to  me;  for  on  my 
way  this  day  I  had  been  greatly  exercised  in  regard  to 
my  latter  end.  I  knew  myself  to  have  been  a  regular 
member  of  the  church,  and  to  have  sought  repentance 
for  m}  sins;  but  though  I  had  often  heard  of  the  faith 
of  assurance,  had  known  nothing  of  it;  but  early  this 
day,  instantaneously  by  a  change  wrought  upon  me 


(29) 


o 
r 
e 


' 


Budden  and  perceivable  as  lightning,  an  assurance  of  my 
peace  made  with  God,  sprung  up  in  my  mind.  The  follow- 
ing words  were  the  subject  of  my  meditation — "  In  ])eace 
thou  shalt  see  God.  Fear  not  those  who  can  kill  the 
body.  In  peace  shalt  thou  depart."  I  was  on  this  oc- 
casion by  a  confidence  in  mind  not  to  be  resisted,  fully 
assured  of  my  salvation.  This  being  the  case  I  was 
willing,  satisfied,  and  glad  to  die. 

I  was  tied  to  the  post,  as  I  have  already  said,  and  the 
flame  was  now  kindled.  The  day  was  clear,  not  a  cloud 
to  be  seen.  If  there  were  clouds  low  in  the  hori- 
zon, the  sides  of  the  house  prevented  me  from  seeing 
them,  but  I  heard  no  thunder,  or  observed  any  sign  of 
approaching^  rain;  just  as  the  fire  of  one  pile  began  to 
bla/e,  the  wind  rose,  from  the  time  they  began  to  kindle 
the  fire  and  to  tie  me  to  the  post,  until  the  wind  began 
to  blow,  was  about  fifteen  minutes.  The  wind  blew  a 
hurricane,  and  the  rain  followed  in  less  than  three  min- 
utes. The  rain  fell  violent;  and  the  fire,  though  it  be- 
gan to  blaze  consideraljly,  was  instantly  extinguished. 
The  rain  lasted  about  a  <juarter  of  an  liour. 

When  it  was  over  the  savages  stood  amazed,  and  were 
a  long  time  silent.  At  last  one  said,  we  will  let  him 
alone  till  morning,  and  take  a  whole  day's  frolic  in  burn- 
ing him.  The  sun  at  this  time  was  about  three  hours 
high.  It  was  agreed  U[)on,  and  the  ro})e  about  my  neck 
was  untied,  and  making  me  sit  down,  they  began  to 
dance  around  me.  They  continued  dancing  in  this  man- 
ner until  eleven  o'clock  at  night;  in  the  mean  time,  beat- 
ing, kicking  and  wounding  me  with  their  tomahawks 
and  clubs. 

At  last  one  of  the  warriors,  th(!  Half  Moon,  asked  me 
if  I  was  sleepy?     I  answered.  Yes.    The  head  warrior 


(  30) 


i' 


then  chose  out  three  warriors  to  take  care  of  me.  I  was 
taken  to  a  block  house ;  my  arms  were  tied  until  the 
cord  was  hid  in  the  flesh ;  they  were  tied  in  two  places, 
round  the  wrist  and  above  the  elbows.  A  rope  was 
fastened  about  my  neck  and  tied  to  abeam  of  the  house, 
but  permitting  me  to  lie  down  on  a  board.  The  three 
warriors  were  constantly  harassing  and  troubling  me, 
saying,  "  How  will  you  like  to  eat  fire  to  morrow — you 
will  kill  no  more  Indians  now.''  I  was  in  expectation 
of  their  going  to  sleep;  when  at  length,  about  an  hour 
before  daybreak,  two  laid  down ;  the  third  smoked  a  pipe, 
talked  to  me  and  asked  the  same  painful  questions. 
About  half  an  hour  after,  he  also  laid  down  and  I  heard 
him  begin  to  snore.  Instantly  I  went  to  work,  and  as 
my  arms  were  perfectly  dead  with  the  cord,  I  laid  my- 
self down  upon  my  right  arm  which  was  behind  my 
back,  and  keeping  it  fast  with  my  fingers,  which  had 
still  some  life  and  strength,  I  slipped  the  cord  frotn  my 
left  arm  over  my  elbow  and  my  wrist.  One  of  the  war- 
riors now  got  up  and  stirred  the  fire:  I  was  apprehen- 
sive that  I  should  be  examined,  and  thought  it  was  over 
with  me ;  but  my  hopes  revived  when  now  he  lay  down 
again.  I  then  attempted  to  unloose  the  rope  about  my 
neck ;  tried  to  gnaw  it,  but  in  vain,  as  it  was  as 
thick  as  my  thumb  and  as  hard  as  iron,  being  made  of 
a  buflaloe  hide:  I  wrought  with  it  a  long  time,  gave  it 
out,  and  could  see  no  relief.  At  thi:*  time  I  saw  dav- 
break  and  heard  the  cock  crow :  I  made  a  second  at- 
tempt, almost  without  hope,  pulling  the  rope  by  putting 
my  fingers  between  my  neck  and  it,  and  to  my  great 
surprise  it  came  easily  untied :  it  was  a  noose  with  two 
or  three  knots  tied  over  it. 


(31  ) 

I  stept  over  the  warriors   as  tliey  lay,  and  having 
got  out  of  the  house,  looked  back  to  see  if  there  was  any 
disturbance;  I  then  run  through  the  town  into  a  corn 
field ;  in  my  way  I  saw  a  squaw  with  four  or  five  child- 
ren lying  asleep  under  a  tree:  going  a  different   way 
into  the  field,  I  untied  my  arm,  which  was  greatly  swelled 
and  turned  black :  having  observed  a  number  of  horses 
in  the  glade  as  I  ran  through  it,  I  went  back  to  catch 
one,  and  on  my  way  found  a  piece  of  an  old  rug  or  quilt 
hanging  on  a  fence,  which   I  took   with  me:    having 
caught  the  horse,  the  rope  with  which  I  had  been  tied 
served  for  a  halter,  I  rode  off:   the  horse  was  strong 
and  swift,  and  the  woods  being  open  and  the  country 
level,  about  ten  o'clock  that  day  I  crossed  the  Sciota 
river  at  a  place,  by  computation,  fifty  full  miles  from  the 
town.    I  had  rode  about  twenty-five  miles  on  this  side 
of  the  Sciota  by  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the 
horse  be;xan  to  fail,  and  could  no  longer  go  on  a  trot.     I 
instantly  left  him,  and  on  foot,  ran  about  twenty  miles 
farther  that  day,  making  in  the  whole  the  distance  of 
near  one  hundred  miles.     In  the  evening  I  heard  halloo- 
ing behind  me,  and  for  this  reason  did  not  halt  until 
about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  when  I  sat  down,   was  ex- 
tremely sick  and  vomited;  but  when  the  moon  rose, 
which  miglit  have  been  about  two  hours  after,  I  went 
on  and  travelled  until  day. 

During  the  night  I  had  a  path,  but  in  the  morning 
judged  it  prudent  to  forsake  the  path  and  take  a  ridge 
for  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles,  in  a  line  at  right  angles 
to  my  course,  putting  back  ji?  I  went  along,  with  a  stick, 
the  weeds  which  I  had  bended,  lest  I  should  be  tracked  l>y 
the  enemy.  I  lay  the  next  night  on  the  waters  of  Mus- 
kingum; the  nettles  had  been  troubksome  to  me  after 


(  '\2  ) 


HI 


my  crossing  the  Sciota,  having  nothing  to  defend  myself 
but  the  piece  of  a  rug  which  I  liad  found,  and  wliich 
while  I  rode  I  used  under  me  by  way  of  saddle;  the 
briers  and  thorns  were  now  painful  to  and  prevented 
me  from  travelling  in  the  night  until  the  moon  appeared. 
In  the  mean  time  I  was  prevented  from  sleeping  by  the 
m.usketoes,  for  even  in  the  day  I  was  under  the  necessity 
of  travelling  w^'th  a  handful  of  bushes  to  brush  them 
from  my  '>w\y. 

The  second  night  I  reached  Cushakim ;  next  day  came 
to  Newcomer's  town,  where  I  got  about  seven  rasberries, 
which  were  the  firtt  thing  I  ate  from  the  morning  on 
which  the  In<^in:i^'  h-nl  taken  me  to  burn  me  until 
this  time,  whiuii  ris  aow  about  three  o'clock  the  fourth 
day.  I  felt  hung  t  V'.r>  litlle,  but  was  extremely  weak. 
I  swam  lyTusldn^'um  river  ,-.  C-idcomer's  town,  the  river 
being  two  hundi  a  ''rds  ,  i:;  having  reached  the 
bank,  I  sat  down,  looked  b;Kk  r  •  'hoaghtl  had  a  start 
of  the  Indians  if  any  should  pursue.  That  evening  I 
travelled  about  live  miles  ;  next  day  came  to  Stillwater, 
a  small  river,  in  a  branch  of  which  I  got  two  small 
crawfish  to  eat:  next  night  I  lay  within  five  miles  of 
Wheeling,  but  had  not  slept  a  wink  during  this  whole 
time,  being  rendered  impossible  by  the  musketoes, 
which  it  was  my  constant  employment  to  brush  away. 
Next  day  came  to  Wheeling,  and  saw  a  man  on  the 
island  in  the  Ohio  oj>posite  to  that  i)()st,  and  calling  to 
him  and  asking  f«)r  particular  persons  who  had  been  on 
the  expedition,  and  telling  him  I  was  Slover,  at  length, 
with  great  dilUculty,  he  was  j)crsuaded  to  come  over  and 
bring  me  across  in  his  canoe. 


(33  ) 

A  Narrative  of  the  Captivity  and  Escape  of  Mrs.  Fran('ES 
Scott,  an  Inhabitant  of  Washington  County^  Virginia. 


of 
)le 


h. 


ON  Wednesday  the  29th  day  of  June,  1785,  late  in 
the  evening,  a  large  company  of  armed  men 
passed  the  house,  on  their  way  to  Kentucky:  Some  part 
of  whom  encamped  within  two  miles.  Mr.  Scott  living 
on  a  frontier  part,  generally  made  the  family  watchful; 
but  on  this  calamitous  day,  after  so  large  a  body  of  men 
had  passed,  shortly  after  night  he  lay  down  in  his  bed, 
and  imprudently  left  one  of  the  doors  of  the  house 
open  ;  the  children  were  also  in  bed,  and  asleep.  Mrs. 
Scott  was  nearly  undressed,  when,  to  her  unutterable 
astonishment  and  horror,  she  saw  rushing  in  through 
the  door  that  was  left  open,  painted  savages  with 
presented  arms,  raising  a  hideous  shriek — Mr.  Scott 
being  awake,  instantly  jumped  out  of  his  l^ed,  but  was 
immediately  fired  at;  he  forced  his  way  through  the 
middle  of  the  enemy  and  got  out  of  the  door,  but  fell  a 
few  paces  from  thence.  An  Indian  seized  Mrs.  Scott, 
and  ordered  her  to  a  particular  spot,  and  not  to  move: 
others  stabbed  and  cut  the  throats  of  the  three  youngest 
children  in  their  bed,  and  afterwards  lifted  them  up  and 
dashed  them  down  on  the  lioor,  near  the  mother ;  the 
eldest  a  beautiful  girl  of  eight  years  old,  awoke,  escaped 
out  of  the  bed,  ran  to  her  parent,  and  with  the  most 
])laintive  accents, cried,  "Oh  mama!  mama!  save  me;" — 
the  mother,  in  the  deepest  anguish  of  spirit,  and  witlia 
Hood  of  tears,  entreated  the  savnges  to  s]);ire  her  (;hild  ; 


but,   with   a   brutal  1 


lerceness. 


thev  tomahawked  and 


stabbed  her  in  her  mother's  arms.      Adjacent  to  Mr. 
Scott's  dwelling  house  another  family  lived,  of  the  name 
c 


(34  ) 


i 


ei 


of  Ball. — The  Indians  also  attacked  them  at  the  same 
instant  they  did  Mr.  Scott's;  but  the  door  being  shut 
the  enemy  fired  into  the  house  through  an  opening 
between  two  logs,  and  killed  a  young  lad ;  they  then 
essayed  to  force  the  door  open,  but  a  surviving  brother 
fired  through  the  door,  and  the  enemy  desisted,  and  went 
off":  the  remaining  part  of  the  family  ran  out  of  the 
house  and  escaped.  In  Mr.  Scott's  house  were  four  good 
rifles,  well  loaded,  and  a  good  deal  of  clothing,  and  fur- 
niture, part  of  which  belonged  to  people  that  had  left 
it  on  their  way  to  Kentucky.  The  Indians  loaded  them- 
selves with  the  plunder,  being  13  in  number,  then  speedly 
made  ofi",  and  continued  travelling  all  night;  next  morn- 
ing their  chief  allotted  to  each  man  his  share;  and  de- 
tached nine  of  the  party  to  steal  horses  from  the  inhabi- 
tants on  Clinch.  The  eleventh  day  after  Mrs.  Scott's 
captivity  the  four  Indians  that  had  her  in  charge, 
stopped  at  a  place  fixed  upon  for  a  rendezvous,  and  to 
hunt,  being  now  in  great  want  of  provisions.  Three 
went  out,  and  the  chief,  being  an  old  man,  was  left  to 
take  care  of  the  prisoner,  who,  by  this  time,  expressed  a 
willingness  to  proceed  to  the  Indian  towns,  which  seemed 
to  have  the  desin^d  efiect  of  lessening  her  keeper's  vigi- 
lance. In  the  day  time,  as  the  old  man  was  graining  a 
deer  skin,  the  captive  pondering  on  her  situation,  and 
anxiously  looking  for  an  opportunity  to  make  her  escape, 
took  the  resolution,  and  went  to  the  Indian  carelessly, 
asked  liberty  to  go  a  small  distance  to  a  stream  of  water, 
to  wash  the  blood  ofi"  her  apron,  that  had  remained 
besmeared  since  the  fatal  night  of  the  nmrder  of  her 
little  daughter.  He  told  her,  in  the  English  tongue, 
"go  along;"  she  then  passed  by  him,  his  face  being 
in  a  contrary  direction  from  that  she  was  going,  and  he 


(  35  ) 


very  busy.  She,  after  getting  to  the  water,  proceeded  on 
without  delay,  made  to  a  high  barren  mountain,  and 
travelled  until  late  in  the  evening,  when  she  canieuown 
into  the  valley,  in  search  of  the  track  she  had  been 
taken  along;  hoping  thereby  to  find  the  way  back,  with- 
out the  risk  of  being  lost,  and  perishing  of  hunger  in 
uninhabited  parts.  On  coming  across  the  valley  to  the 
river  side,  sui)posed  to  be  the  easterly  l)ranch  of  Ken- 
tucky river,  she  observed  in  the  sand  tracks  of  two  men, 
that  had  gone  up  the  river,  and  had  just  returned.  She 
concluded  tiiese  to  have  been  her  pursuers,  which  ex- 
cited emotions  of  gratitude  and  thankfulness  to  divine 
providence  for  so  timely  a  deliverance.  Being  without 
any  ))rovisions,  having  no  kind  of  weapon  or  tool  to 
assist  her  in  getting  any,  and  being  almost  destitute  of 
clothing,  also  knowing  that  a  vast  tract  of  rugged  high 
mountains  intervened,  between  where  she  was  and  the 
inhabitants  eastwardly,  and  the  distance  of  the  Ken- 
tucky settlements  unknown,  and  she  almost  as  ignorant 
as  a  child  of  the  riethod  of  steering  through  the  woods, 
excited  painful  sensations.  But  certain  death,  either 
by  hunger  or  wild  beasts,  seemed  preferable  rather  than 
to  be  in  the  power  of  beings  who  had  excited  in  her 
mind  sucii  horror.  She  addressed  heaven  for  protection, 
and  taking  courage,  proceeded  onward.  After  travelling 
three  days,  she  had  nearly  met  with  the  Indians,  as  she 
sup])osed,  that  had  been  sent  to  Clinch  to  steal  horses, 
but  providentially  hearing  their  approach,  concealed 
herself  among  the  cane,  until  the  enemy  had  i)a8se(l. 
This  giving  a  fresh  alarm,  and  her  mind  being  filled  with 
consternation,  she  got  lost,  proceeding  backwards  and 
forwards  for  several  days;  at  length  she  came  to  a  river, 
that  seemed  to  come  from  the  east;  concluding  it  was 


(  36  ) 

Sandy  river,  she  resolved  to  trace  it  to  its  source,  which 
is  adjacent  to  the  Clinch  settlement.  After  proceeding 
up  the  same  several  days,  she  came  to  where  the  river 
runs  through  the  great  Laurel  mountain,  where  is  a 
prodigious  water-fall,  and  numerous  high,  craggy  cliffs 
along  the  water  edge;  that  way  seemed  impassable,  the 
the  mountain  steep  and  difficult :  However,  our  mournful 
traveller  concluded  that  the  latter  way  was  the  best. 
She  tliereforc  ascended  for  sometime,  but  coming  to  a 
range  of  inaccessible  rocks,  she  turned  her  course 
towards  the  foot  of  the  mountain  and  the  river  side : 
afier  getting  into  a  deep  gulley,  and  passing  over  several 
high,  steep  rocks,  she  reached  the  river  side,  where  to 
her  inexpressible  affliction,  she  found  that  a  perpendicu- 
lar rock,  or  rather  one  that  hung  over,  of  15  or  20  feet 
high,  formed  the  bank.  Here  a  solemn  pause  took  place ; 
she  essayed  to  return,  but  the  height  of  the  steeps  and 
rocks  she  had  passed  over,  prevented  her.  She  then 
returned  to  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  and  viewed  the 
bottom  of  it,  as  the  certain  spot  to  end  all  her  troubles, 
to  remain  on  the  top  to  pine  away  with  hunger,  or  l)e 
devoured  by  wild  beasts.  After  serious  meditation,  and 
devout  exercises,  she  determined  on  leaping  from  the 
height,  and  accordingly  jumped  off.  Although  the  place 
she  had  to  aliglit  on  was  covered  with  uneven  rocks,  not 
a  bone  was  broken ;  but,  being  exceedingly  stunned  by 
the  fall,  she  remained  unable  to  proceed  for  some  space 
of  time.  The  dry  season  caused  the  river  to  be  shallow 
— she  travelled  in  it,  and  where  she  could,  by  its  edge 
until  she  got  through  the  mountain,  which  she  concluded 
was  several  miles.  After  this,  as  she  was  travelling  along 
the  bank  of  the  river,  a  venomous  snake  bit  her  on  the 
ancle:  she  had  strength  to  kill  it,  and  knowing  its  kind, 


^ 


iie 


(  37  ) 

concluded  that  deatli  must  soon  overtake  her.  By  this 
time,  Mrs.  Scott  was  reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton  with 
fatigue,  hunger  and  griel":  ])robably  this  state  of  her 
body  was  the  means  of  preserving  her  from  the  effects 
of  the  i)oison:  be  that  as  it  may,  very  little  pain  suc- 
ceeded the  bite,  and  what  little  swelling  there  was,  fell 
into  her  fe(»t.  Our  wanderer  now  left  the  river,  and  after 
proceeding  a  good  distance,  she  came  to  where  the  val- 
ley passed  into  two,  each  leading  a  different  course. — 
Here  a  painful  suspense  again  took  place:  a  forlorn 
creature,  almost  exha  nted,  and  certain  if  slie  was 
far  led  out  of  the  way,  she  would  never  see  a  human 
creature — During  this  soliloquy,  a  beautiful  l)ird  piissid 
close  by  her,  fluttering  along  the  groutui,  and  went  out 
of  sight  up  one  of  the  valleys.  This  drew  her  attention, 
and  whilst  considering  what  it  might  mean,  anotfier 
bird  of  the  same  appearance  in  like  manner  fluttered 
past  her,  and  took  the  same  valley  the  other  had  done. 
This  determined  her  choice  of  the  way ;  and  in  two  days, 
which  was  the  11th  day  of  August,  she  reached  that 
settlement  on  Clinch,  called  New  Garden;  whereas  (she 
is  since  informed  by  wood-men)  had  she  taken  the  other 
valley,  it  would  have  led  her  back  towards  the  Ohio. 

Mrs.  Scott  relates  that  the  Indians  told  her,  that  the 
party  was  composed  of  four  different  nations,  two  of 
whom  she  thinks  they  named  Delawares  and  Mingoes. 
She  further  relates,  that  during  her  wandering  from  the 
tenth  of  July  to  the  eleventli  of  August,  she  had  no 
other  subsistence  but  chewing  and  swallowing  the  juice 
of  young  cane  stalks.  Sassafras  leaves,  and  some  other 
plants  she  did  not  know  the  names  of;  that,  on  her 
journey,  she  saw  Buffaloes,  Elks,  Deer,  and  frec^uently 
Bears  and  Wolves;  not  one  of  which,  although  some 


(  38  ) 

passed  very  near  lier,  ollered  to  do  her  the  least  harm. 
One  day  a  Bear  came  near  her,  with  a  young  Fawn  in 
his  mouth,  and,  on  discovering  her  he  dropped  his  prey 
and  ran  oft".  Hunger  prompted  her  to  go  and  take  the 
flesh  and  eat  it:  hut,  on  reflection,  she  desisted,  think- 
ing that  the  Bear  might  return  and  devour  her;  ])eside8, 
phe  had  an  aversion  to  taste  raw  flesh.  Mrs.  Scott  con- 
tinues in  a  low  state  of  health,  and  remains  incon- 
solable for  the  lo?s  of  her  family,  i)articularly  bewailing 
the  cruel  death  of  her  little  daughter. 


It 


The  Trial  of  MAMACiiTAfJA,  an  Indian,  at  a  Court  of  Oyer 
and  Terminer  for  the  Count}/  of  Westmoreland,  in  the  year 
1784-5. 

I  KNOW  the  particulars  of  the  following  story  well, 
because  one  of  the  men  (Smith)  vras  shingling  a 
house  for  me  in  the  town  of  Pittsburgh,  the  evening 
before  he  was  murdered  by  Mamachtaga,  and  for  which 
murder,  and  some  others,  this  Indian  was  tried. — Smith 
had  borrowed  a  blanket  of  me,  saying  that  he  was  about  to 
cross  the  river  (Allegheny)  to  the  Indian  camp  on  the 
west  side. — Here  a  party  of  Indians,  mostly  Delawares, 
had  come  in,  it  being  just  after  the  war,  and  the  greater 
part  of  these  Indians  having  professed  themselves 
friendly  during  the  war,  and  their  chief,  Killbuck,  with 
his  family  and  that  of  several  others,  having  remained 
at  the  garrison,  or  on  an  island  in  the  Ohio  river,  called 
Killbuck's  Island,  and  under  the  reach  of  the  guns  of  the 
fort.  Mamachtaga  had  been  at  war  against  the  settle- 
ments with  others  of  the  Delawares  who  were  now  at 
this  encami)ment. 


.'I 


/ 


( ^^ ) 

I  went  myself  over  to  the  encampment,  the  next 
morninj;,  and  found  the  Indians  there.  Two  men  had 
been  murdered,  Smith  and  another  of  the  name  of 
Evans,  and  two  wounded,  one  of  them  a  dwarf  of  the 
name  of  Freeman.  According  to  the  relation  which  I 
got  from  the  wounded,  there  were  four  white  men 
together  in  a  cabin  when  Mamachtaga,  without  the 
least  notice,  rushed  in  and  stabbed  Smith  mortally,  and 
had  stabbed  Evans,  who  had  seized  the  Indian  who  was 
entangled  with  the  dwarf  among  his  feet  attempting  to 
escape,  and  who  had  received  wounds  also  in  the 
scufllo;  the  other  white  man  had  also  received  a  stab. 
It  would  appear  that  the  Indian  had  been  in  li«iuor, 
according  to  the  account  of  the  other  Indians  and  of  the 
white  men  who  escaped.  Killbuck  appeared  greatly 
cast  down,  and  sat  upon  a  log,  silent.  Mamachtaga 
made  no  attempt  to  escape.  He  was  now  sober,  and 
gave  himself  up  to  the  guard  that  came  over,  affecting 
not  to  know  what  had  happened.  The  seat  of  justice 
of  Westmoreland  county  being  3<)  miles  distant,  and 
the  jail  there  not  being  secure,  1  was  t.iken  to  the 
guard-house  of  the  garrison,  to  be  confined  until  a  court 
of  Oyer  and  Terminer  should  be  holden  in  the  county. 
Living  in  the  place  and  being  of  the  profession  of  the  law, 
said  I  to  the  interpreter,  Joseph  Nicholas,  one  day,  has 
that  Indian  any  fur  or  peltry,  or  has  he  any  interest 
with  his  nation  that  he  could  collect  some  and  pay  a 
lawyer  to  take  up  his  defence  for  this  homicide  ?  The 
interpreter  said  that  he  had  some  in  the  hands  of  a 
trader  in  town,  and  that  he  could  raise  from  liis  nation 
any  quantity  of  racoon  or  beaver,  j^rovided  it  would 
answer  any  purpose.  I  was  struck  with  the  ])leasantry 
of  having  an  Indian  for  a  client,  and  getting  a  fee  in 


^i 


(40  ) 

this  way,  and  told  the  interpreter  to  go  to  the  Indian, 
and  explain  the  matter  to  him,  wlio  did  so,  and  brought 
me  an  account  that  Mamachtaga  had  forty  weight  of 
Beaver,  which  he  was  ready  to  make  over,  being  with  a 
trader  in  town,  William  Amberson,  with  whom  he  had 
left  it,  and  that  he  had  a  brother  who  would  set  off  im- 
mediately to  the  Indian  towns,  and  procure  an  hundred 
weight  or  more  if  tliat  would  do  any  good,  but  the 
interpreter  stipulated  that  he  should  have  half  of  all 
that  should  be  got,  for  his  trouble  in  bringing  about  the 
contract.  Accordingly  he  was  dispatched  to  the  Indian, 
from  whom  he  brought,  in  a  short  time,  an  order  for  the 
beaver  in  the  hand  of  the  trader,  with  Mamachtaga  (his 
mark.)  The  mark  was  something  like  a  turkey's  foot, 
as  these  people  have  no  idea  of  an  hieroglyphic  merely 
abstract,  as  a  strait  line  or  a  curve,  but  it  must  bear 
some  resemblance  to  a  thing  in  nature.  After  this,  as  it 
behoved,  I  went  to  consult  with  my  client  and  arrange 
his  defence,  if  it  were  possible  to  make  one  on  which  a 
probable  face  could  be  put.  Accomi)anied  by  the  inter- 
preter, I  was  admitted  to  tlie  Indian,  so  that  I  could 
converse  with  him;  he  was  in  what  is  called  the  black 
hole,  something  resembling  that  kind  of  hole  which  is 
depressed  in  the  iloor,  and  which  the  southern  })eople 
have  in  their  cabins,  in  which  to  keef)  their  esculent 
roots  from  the  frost  during  the  winter  season.  Not 
going  down  into  the  hole  {is  may  be  supposed,  though 
it  was  large  enough  to  contain  two  or  three,  and  was 
depressed  about  eight  feet,  being  the  place  in  which 
delin(iuent  or  refractory  soldierj^  had  been  confined 
occasionally  for  punishment,  but  standing  on  the  Hoor 
above,  I  desired  tlie  interpreter  to  put  his  ([uestions. 
This  was   done,  exi)laining  to  liim  the  object  of  the 


(41  ) 

enquiry,  that  it  was  to  serve  him,  and  by  knowing  the 
truth,  be  prepared  for  his  defence;  he  affected  to 
know  nothing  about  it,  nor  was  he  disposed  to  rely 
upon  any  defence  that  could  be  made.  His  idea  was 
that  he  was  giving  the  beaver  as  a  commutation  for  his 
life.  Under  this  impression  it  did  not  appear  to  me 
proper  that  I  should  take  the  beaver,  knowing  that  I 
could  do  nothing  for  him ;  besides,  seeing  the  manner 
in  which  the  dark  and  squalid  creature  was  accommo- 
dated with  but  a  shirt  and  breech-clout  on,  humanity 
dictated  that  the  beaver  should  be  applied  to  procure 
him  a  blanket  and  food  additional  to  the  bread  and 
water  which  he  was  allowed.  Accordingly  I  returned 
the  order  to  the  interpreter,  and  desired  him  to  procure 
and  furnish  these  things.  He  seemed  reluctant,  and 
thought  we  ought  to  keep  the  perquisite  we  had  got. 
On  this,  I  thought  it  most  adviseable  to  retain  the  order 
and  give  it  to  a  trader  in  town  with  directions  to  fur- 
nish these  articles  occasiom  lly  to  the  officer  of  the  guard, 
which  I  did,  taking  the  responsibility  upon  myself  to 
the  interpreter  for  his  part  of  the  beaver. 

An  Indian  woman,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Grena- 
dier Squaw,  was  sitting  doing  some  work  by  the  trap- 
door of  the  cell,  or  hole  in  which  he  was  confined,  for 
the  trap-door  was  kept  open  and  a  sentry  at  the  outer 
door  of  the  guard-house,  the  Indian  woman  was  led  by 
sympathy  to  sit  by  him.  I  had  a  curiosity  to  know  the 
force  of  abstract  sentiment,  in  preferring  greater  evils  to 
what  with  us  would  seem  to  be  less;  or  rather  the  force 
of  opinion  over  pain.  For  knowing  the  idea  of  the  In- 
dians with  regard  to  the  disgrace  of  hanging,  I  {)roposed 
to  the  Indian  woman,  who  spoke  Kiiglish  as  well  as 
Indian,  and  was  a  Delaware  herself,  (Maniachtaga  was 


(  42  ) 


'  ft 


m 


of  that  nation,)  to  ask  him  which  he  would  choose, 
to  be  hanged  or  burnt?  Whether  it  was  that  the  woman 
was  struck  with  the  inhumanity  of  introducing  the  idea 
of  death,  slie  not  only  declined  to  put  the  question,  but 
her  countenance  expressed  resentment  I  then  recol- 
lected, and  have  since  attended  to  the  circumstance,  that 
amongst  themselves,  when  they  mean  to  put  any  one  to 
death,  they  conceal  the  determination,  and  the  time,  until 
it  is  about  to  be  put  in  execution,  unless  the  blacking 
the  prisoner,  which  is  a  mark  uj)on  such  as  are  about  to 
be  burnt,  may  be  called  an  intimation ;  but  it  is  only  by 
those  who  are  accustomed  to  their  manners  that  it  can 
be  understood.  However,  I  got  the  question  put  by  the 
interpreter,  at  which  he  seemed  to  hesitate  for  some  time, 
but  s:ii(l  he  would  rather  be  shot  or  be  tomahawked.  In 
a  few  days  it  made  a  great  noise  through  the  country 
that  I  was  to  ap])ear  for  the  Indian,  and  having  acquired 
some  reputation  in  the  defence  of  criminals,  it  was 
thought  possible  by  some  that  he  might  beac(iuitted  by 
the  crooks  of  the  law,  as  the  people  exi)ressed  it;  and  it 
was  talked  of  pul)lickly  to  raise  a  party  and  come  to 
town  and  take  tiie  interpreter  and  me  both,  and  hang 
the  interpreter,  and  exact  an  oath  from  me  not  to  appear 
in  behalf  of  the  Indian.  It  was,  however,  finally  con- 
cluded to  come  in  to  the  garrison  and  demand  the  In- 
dian, and  hang  him  themselves.  Accordingly,  a  party 
came,  in  a  few  days,  and  about  break  of  day  summoned 
the  garri^'on,  and  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  Indian; 
the  conim:inding  ollicer  remonstrated,  and  prevailed 
with  them  to  leave  the  Indian  to  the  civil  authority. 
Upon  which  tiiey  retired,  firing  their  guns  as  they  came 
through  the  town.  The  interpreter,  hearing  the  alarm, 
sprang  up  in  iiis  shirt,  and  made  for  a  hill  above  the 


( 4a  ) 

town,  called  Grant's-hill.  On  seeing  him  run,  he  was 
taken  for  the  Indian,  who  they  supposed  had  been 
suffered  to  escape,  and  was  pursued,  until  the  people 
were  assured  that  it  was  not  the  Indian.  In  the  mean 
time  ho  had  run  some  miles,  and  swimming  the  river, 
lay  in  the  Indian  country  until  he  thought  it  might  be 
sate  to  return. 

It  was  not  without  good  reason  that  the  interpreter 
was  alarmed,  for  having  been  some  years  amongst  the 
Indians,  in  early  life  a  prisoner,  and  since  a  good  deal 
employed  in  the  Indian  trade,  and  on  all  occasions  of 
treaty,  employed  as  an  interpreter,  he  was  associated  in 
the  public  mind  with  an  Indian,  and  on  this  occasion, 
considered  as  the  abetter  of  the  Indian,  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  employing  council  to  defend  him.  And 
before  this  time  a  i)arty  had  come  from  the  Chartiers,  a 
settlement  south  of  the  Monongahela,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  this  town,  and  had  attacked  some  friendly  In- 
dians on  the  Island  in  the  Ohio,  (Killbuck's  Island) 
under  the  protection  of  the  garrison,  had  killed  several, 
and  amongtit  them  some  that  had  been  of  essential  ser- 
vice to  the  whites,  in  the  expeditions  against  the  Indian 
towns,  and  on  scouting  parties,  in  case  of  attacks  uj)on 
the  settlements.  One  to  whom  the  whit(s  had  given  the 
name  of  Wilson,  (Captain  Wilson)  was  mucii  regretted 
by  the  garrison.  A  certain  Cisna  had  commanded  the 
party  that  committed  this  outrage. 

A  day  or  two  after  his  return,  the  interpreter  came  to 
me,  and  relinquished  all  interest  in  the  beaver  that  was 
lodged  with  the  trader,  or  expectant  from  the  towns, 
that  he  might,  to  use  his  own  language,  wipe  his  hands 
of  the  affair,  and  be  clear  of  the  charge  of  supporting 
the  Indian.    The  fact  was,  that  as  to  beaver  from  the 


(44  ) 


towns  I  expected  none,  having  been  informed  in  the 
mean  time  by  the  friendly  Indians,  that  Mamachtaga 
was  a  bad  man,  and  was  thought  so  by  his  nation ;  that 
he  had  been  a  great  warrior;  but  was  mischievous  in 
liquor,  having  killed  two  of  his  own  people;  that  it 
would  not  be  much  regretted  in  the  nation  to  hear  of 
his  death;  and  that,  except  his  brother,  no  one  would 
give  any  thing  to  get  him  off. 

He  had  the  appearance  of  great  ferocity ;  was  of  tall 
stature,  and  fierce  aspect;  he  was  called  Mamachtaga, 
which  signifies  trees  blown  across,  as  is  usual  in  a  hurri- 
cane or  tempest  by  the  wind,  and  this  name  had  l)een 
given  him  from  the  ungovernable  nature  of  his  passion. 
Having,  therefore,  no  expectation  of  peltry  or  fur  in  the 
case,  it  was  no  great  generosity  in  me  to  press  upon  tlie 
interpreter  the  taking  half  the  beaver,  as  his  right  in 
procuring  the  contract;  but  finding  me  ol)stinatc  in  in- 
sisting upon  it,  he  got  a  friend  to  speak  to  me,  and  at 
length  I  suffered  myself  to  be  prevailed  upon  to  let  him 
off  and  take  all  the  beaver  that  could  ])e  got  to  myself. 

It  did  not  appear  to  me  adviscable  to  relinquish  the 
defence  of  the  Indian,  fee  or  no  fee,  lest  it  should  be 
supposed  that  I  yielded  to  the  popular  impression,  the 
fury  of  which,  when  it  had  a  little  spent  itself,  began  to 
subside,  and  there  were  some  who  thought  the  Indian 
miglit  be  cleared,  if  it  could  be  i)roved  that  the  white 
men  killed  had  made  the  Indian  drunk,  which  was 
alleged  to  be  the  case;  but  which  the  wounded  and  sur- 
viving persons  denied,  particularly  the  dwarf,  (William 
Freeman,)  but  his  testimony,  it  was  thought,  would  not 
be  much  regarded,  as  he  could  not  be  said  to  be  man 
grown,  and  had  been  convicted  at  the  (piarter  sessions  of 
stealing  a  keg  of  whiskey  some  time  before. 


I 


I 


(45  ) 


At  a  court  of  Oj'er  and  Terminer  hoklen  for  the  county 
of  Westmoreland,  before  Chief  Justice  M'Kean,  and 
Bryan,  Mamachtaga  was  Itrought  to  trial. — The  usual 
forms  were  pursued.  An  interpreter,  not  Nicholas,  hut 
a  certain  Handlyn,  stood  by  him  nnd  interpreted,  in  the 
Delaware  language,  the  indictment  and  the  meaning  of 
it,  and  the  privilege  he  had  to  deny  the  charge,  tiiat  is, 
the  plea  of  '■^not  guilti/.''^  But  he  could  not  easily  com- 
prehend that  it  was  matter  of  form,  and  that  he  must 
say  ^^noi  (juilly^''  for  he  was  unwilling  to  deny,  as  unbe- 
coming a  warrior  to  deny  the  truth.  For  though  he  did 
not  confess,  yet  he  did  not  like  to  say  that  he  had  not 
killed  the  men;  only  that  he  was  drunk,  and  did  not 
know  what  he  had  done ;  but "  supposed  he  should  know 
when  he  was  under  the  ground."  The  court  directed 
the  plea  to  be  entered  for  him,  and  he  was  put  upon  his 
trial. 

He  was  called  upon  to  make  his  challenges,  which  the 
inter])reter  exjiliuned  to  him,  which  he  was  left  to  make 
himself,  and  which  he  did  as  he  liked  the  countenance 
of  tlie  jury,  and  challenged  according  to  the  sourness, 
or  cheerfulness  of  the  countenance,  and  what  lie  thought 
indications  of  a  mild  temjjer.  The  jurors,  as  they  were 
called  to  the  book,  beingtold  in  the  usual  form, ''  Prisoner, 
look  upon  the  juror — ;juror,  look  upon  thi;  prisoner  at 
the  bar — are  you  related  to  the  prisoner?"  ( )ne  of  them 
a  German  of  a  swarthy  complexion,  and  being  tlie  first 
called,  t(K)k  the  (luestion  amiss,  thinking  it  a  reflection, 
and  said  with  some  anger,  that  "he  thought  that  an  un- 
civil way  to  treat  Dutch  ])e()p]e,  as  if  he  could  be  the 
lirother,  or  cousin,  of  an  Indian;"  but  the  matter  being 
explained  to  him  by  another  (Jerman  on  the  jury,  he 
was  satisfied,  and  was  sworn. 


!    i 


J 
If 


i; 


I.I 


(  46  ) 

The  meaning  of  the  jury  being  on  oath,  was  explained 
to  the  Indian,  to  give  him  some  idea  of  the  solemnity 
and  fairness  of  the  trial.  The  testimony  was  positive 
and  put  the  homicide  beyond  a  doubt ;  so  that  nothing 
remained  for  me,  in  opening  his  defence,  but  the  offer- 
ing to  prove  that  he  was  in  liquor,  and  that  this  had 
been  given  him  by  the  white  people,  the  traders  in  town. 
This  testimony  was  overruled,  and  it  was  explained  to 
the  Indian  that  the  being  drunk  could  not  by  our  law 
excuse  the  murder.  The  Indian  said  "  he  hoped  the 
good  man  alcove  would  excuse  it." 

The  jury  gave  their  verdict,  guilty,  without  leaving 
the  bar.  And  the  prisoner  was  remanded  to  jail.  In 
the  mean  time  there  was  tried  at  the  same  court  another 
person,  (John  Bradly,)  on  a  charge  of  homicide,  but 
who  was  found  guilty  of  mnndaughter  only.  Towards 
the  ending  of  the  court,  those  were  both  brought  up  to 
receive  sentence.  The  Indian  was  asked  what  he  had 
to  say,  why  sentence  of  death  should  not  be  pronounced 
upon  him.  This  was  interpreted  to  him,  and  he  said 
that  he  would  rather  run  awhile.  This  was  under  the 
idea  of  the  custom  among  the  Indians  of  giving  time  to 
the  murderer,  according  tothecircumstancesof  the  case, 
to  run,  during  which  time  if  he  can  satisfy  the  relations 
of  the  deceased,  by  a  commutation  for  his  life,  a  gun,  a 
horse,  fur  and  the  like,  it  is  in  their  pov/er  to  dispense 
with  the  punishment,  but  if  this  cannot  be  done,  having 
not  enough  to  give,  or  tiie  relations  not  consenting  to 
take  a  commutation,  he  must  come  at  the  end  of  the 
time  appointed,  to  the  spot  assigned,  and  there,  by  a 
warrior  of  the  nation,  or  some  relative,  son,  brother,  &c. 
of  the  deceased,  be  put  to  death,  in  which  case  the  toma- 
hawk is  the  usual  instrument.     No  instance  will  occur 


i 


(  47  ) 


id 
le 
to 


a 

3e 

mg 

to 

le 

a 

re. 

la- 

ur 


in  which  the  condemned  will  not  be^)unctual  to  his  en- 
gagement. And  I  think  it  very  probable,  or  rather  can 
have  no  doubt,  but  that  if  this  Indian  had  been  suffered 
to  run  at  this  time,  that  is,  go  to  his  nation,  on  the  con- 
dition to  return  at  a  certain  period,  to  receive  the  sen- 
tence of  what  he  would  call  the  council,  he  would  have 
come,  with  as  much  fidelity,  as  a  man  challenged,  would 
on  a  point  of  honour  come  to  the  place  assigned,  and  at 
the  time  when,  to  risk  himself  to  his  adversary.  Such 
is  the  force  of  opinion,  from  education,  on  the  human 
mind. 

Sentence  having  been  pronounced  upon  the  convicted 
of  manslaughter.  (In  this  case,  the  first  part  of  the  sen- 
tence, as  the  law  directs,  was  that  of  hanging,  which  is 
done  until  the  benefit  of  clergy  is  prayed  by  the  primncr ; 
but  not  understanding  this,  he  was  not  prepared  for  the 
shock ; — nothing  could  exceed  the  contortion  of  his  mus- 
cles when  a  sentence,  contrary  to  what  he  had  expected, 
was  pronounced.  Being  a  simple  man,  he  made  a  hide- 
ous outcry,  gave  a  most  woful  look  to  the  court,  and 
country  and  begged  for  mercy;  and  it  was  not  for  some 
time  after  that,  having  the  matter  explained  to  him,  and 
the  benefit  of  clergy  being  allowed,  he  could  be  com- 
posed,) sentence  of  burning  in  the  hand  being  now  pro- 
nounced ;  at  this  moment  the  sheriff  came  in  with  a  rope 
to  bind  up  his  hand  to  a  beam  of  the  low  and  wooden 
court-house  in  which  we  were,  in  order  that  the  hot  iron 
might  be  put  upon  it. 

Sentence  of  hanging  had  been  previously  pronounced 
U})on  the  Indian,  on  which  he  had  said  that  he  would 
prefer  to  be  sliot;  but  it  being  explained  to  him  that  this 
could  not  be  done,  he  had  the  idea  of  hanging  in  his 
mind.     Accordingly,  by  a  side  glan(!e,  seeing  the  sheriff 


■ 

! 


■1 


''il. 


(48  ) 

coming  in  with  a  rope,  which  was  a  bed  cord  he  had 
procured,  having  nothing  else,  in  our  then  low  state  of 
trade  and  manufactures,  Mamachtnga  conceived  that  the 
sentence  was  about  to  be  executed  presently  upon  him, 
and  that  the  rope  was  for  this  purpose,  which  coming 
unaware  U])on  him,  he  lost  the  command  of  himself  for 
a  moment;  his  visage  grew  black,  his  features  were 
screwed  up,  and  he  writhed  with  horror  and  aversion; 
the  surprise  not  having  given  time  to  the  mind  to  col- 
lect itself,  and  on  the  acquired  principle  of  honour,  to 
conceal  its  dismay,  or  on  thosf  of  reason  to  bear  with 
and  compose  itself  to  its  fate.  Even  when  undeceived 
and  made  acquainted  that  he  was  not  to  die  then,  he 
remained  under  a  visible  horror,  the  idea  of  immediate 
death,  and  especially  of  hanging,  giving  a  tremor,  like 
the  refrigeration  of  cold  upon  the  human  frame. 

Before  he  was  taken  from  the  bar,  he  wished  to  say 
something,  which  was  to  acknowledge,  that  his  trial  had 
been  fair,  and  to  express  a  wish,  that  his  nation  would 
not  revenge  his  death,  or  come  to  war  on  his  account. 
Being  asked  as  he  was  taken  off,  by  some  of  those  ac- 
companying the  sheriff,  in  conducting  him  to  jail,  whom 
he  thought  the  judges  to  be,  before  whom  he  had  been 
tried,  and  who  were  on  the  bench  in  scarlet  rolies,  which 
was  the  official  custom  of  that  time,  and  being  of  the 
Delaware  nation,  amongst  whom  Moravian  missionaries 
had  been  a  good  deal,  and  as  it  would  seem,  mixing 
some  recollections  which  he  had  derived  from  this  source, 
he  answered  that  the  one,  meaning  the  chief  justice,  was 
God,  and  the  other  Jesus  Christ. 

At  the  same  court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  was  convicted 
a  man  for  the  crime  against  nature,  and  at  a  court  of 
Quarter  Sessions  a  short  time  after,  another  a  young 


(  49  ) 


.'as 


■ 


man  of  the  name  of  Jack  had  been  convicted  of  larceny, 
and  was  now  confined  in  the  same  jail,  and  in  fact  in 
the  same  room,  for  there  was  but  one,  with  the  Indian 
and  the  white  man  ])efore-mentioned ;  imd  though,  upon 
account  of  his  youth  and  family  connections,  the  jury  in 
finding  a  verdict  had  recommended  him  to  pardon,  for 
which  the  supreme  executive  council  of  the  State  had 
been  petitioned  some  time  before;  nevertheless  he  could 
not  restrain  the  wickedness  of  his  mind  and  had  pre- 
vailed upon  the  white  man,  guilty  of  the  crime  against 
nature,  as  he  had  to  die  at  any  rate,  to  save  the  disgrace 
of  being  hanged,  to  consent  to  be  murdered  by  the  In- 
dian. The  creature  was  extremely  simple,  and  had  act- 
ually consented,  and  Jack  had  prepared  a  knife  for  the 
purpose,  but  the  Indian  refused,  though  solicited,  and 
offered  liquor,  saying  that  he  had  killed  white  men 
enough  already. 

A  child  of  the  jailor  had  been  taken  sick,  and  had  a 
fever.  The  Indian  said  he  could  cure  it,  if  he  had  n)ot8 
from  the  woods,  which  he  knew.  The  jailor  taking  oil" 
his  irons  which  he  had  on  his  feet,  took  his  word  that 
he  would  not  make  his  escape,  while  he  let  him  go  to 
the  woods  to  collect  roots,  telling  him  that  it  lie  did 
make  his  escape,  the  great  council,  the  judges,  would 
hang  him,  (the  jailor,)  in  his  place.  But  for  greater  se- 
curity the  jailor  thought  ])roper  to  accompany  him  to 
the  woods,  where  roots  were  collected,  wliich  on  their 
return  were  made  use  of  in  the  cure  of  the  child. 

The  warrant  for  the  execution  of  the  Indian  and  of 
the  white  man,  came  to  hand,  and  the  niorning  of  the 
execution  the  Indian  expressed  a  wish  to  i)e  painted, 
that  he  might  die  like  a  warrior.  The  jailor,  as  before, 
unironed  him,  and  took  him  to  the  woods  to  collect  his 


il 


h 


? 


till 


1 


(50) 

usual  paints,  which  having  done,  he  returned,  and  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  occasion,  painting  highly  with 
the  rouge  which  they  use  on  great  occasions. 

A  great  body  of  people  assembling  at  the  place  of 
execution,  the  white  man  was  hung  first,  and  afterwards 
the  Indian  ascended  a  ladder  placed  to  the  cross  timber 
of  the  gibbet;  the  rope  being  fastened,  when  he  was 
swung  off  it  broke,  and  the  Indian  fell,  and  having 
swooned  a  little,  he  rose  with  a  smile,  and  went  up 
again,  a  stronger  rope  in  the  mean  time  having  })een 
provided,  or  rather  two  put  about  his  neck  together,  so 
that  his  weight  was  supported,  and  he  underwent  the 
sentence  of  the  law,  and  was  hanged  till  he  was  dead. 

This  was  during  the  Indian  war,  and  the  ])lace  on  the 
verge  of  the  settlement,  so  that  if  the  Indian  had  taken 
a  false  step,  and  gone  off  from  the  jailor  while  he  was 
looking  for  roots  for  the  cure,  or  for  painting,  it  would 
have  been  easy  for  him  to  have  made  his  escape ;  but 
such  is  the  force  of  opinion,  as  we  have  before  said, 
resulting  from  the  way  of  thinking  amongst  the  Indians, 
that  he  did  not  seem  to  think  that  he  had  the  physical 
power  to  go.  It  was  nevertheless  considered  an  impru- 
dent thing  in  the  jailor  to  run  this  risk.  For  if  the 
Indian  had  made  his  escape,  it  is  morally  certain  that 
in  the  then  state  of  public  mind,  the  jailor  himself 
would  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  the  resentment  of  the 
people. ; 


(51  ) 
STORY  OF  THE  LAME  INDIAN. 


IN  Pittsburgh,  (Pennsylvania,)  about  the  year  1780, 
one  evening  just  in  the  twilight,  there  was  found 
sitting  in  a  porch,  an  Indian  witli  a  light  pole  in  his 
hand.  He  spoke  in  broken  English  to  the  person  of  the 
house  who  first  came  out,  and  asked  for  milk.  The 
person  (a  girl )  ran  in  and  returning  with  others  of  the 
family,  they  came  to  see  what  it  was  tliat  had  some- 
thing like  the  appearance  of  a  human  skeleton.  He 
was  to  the  last  degree  emaciated,  with  scarcely  the 
semblance  of  flesh  upon  his  bones.  One  of  liis  limbs 
had  been  wounded,  and  it  had  been  on  one  foot  and  l)y 
the  help  of  the  pole  that  he  had  made  his  way  to  this 
place.  Being  questioned,  he  appeared  too  weak  to  give 
an  account  of  himself,  but  asked  for  milk,  which  was 
given  him,  and  word  sent  to  the  commanding  officer  of 
the  garrison  at  that  place,  (general  William  Irwin)  who 
sent  a  guard  and  had  him  taken  to  the  garrison.  After 
having  had  food,  and  now  able  to  give  some  account 
of  himself,  he  was  questioned  by  the  interpreter,  (Joseph 
Nicholas.)  He  related  that  he  had  been  on  Beav<'r  river 
trapping,  and  had  a  difference  with  a  Mingo  Indian, 
who  had  shot  him  in  the  leg,  because  he  had  said  he 
wished  to  come  to  the  white  people. 

Being  told  that  this  was  not  credible,  but  that  he 
must  tell  the  truth,  and  in  so  doing  he  would  fare  the 
better,  he  gave  the  following  account;  to  wit,  that  he 
was  one  of  a  party  which  had  struck  the  settlement  in 
the  last  moon,  attacked  a  fort,  and  killed  some  and  took 
some  prisoners. 


(52) 


a .. 


If- 

If 


i 


11 


r' 


iU 


(This  appeared  to  be  a  fort  known  by  the  name  of 
Waltour's  Fort,  by  the  account  which  he  gave,  which 
is  at  the  distance  of  twenty  threo  miles  from  the  town, 
on  the  Pennsylvania  road  towards  Phihidelphia,  and 
within  eight  miles  of  what  is  now  Greensburgh.)  He 
stated  that  it  was  there  he  received  his  wound. 

The  fact  was  that  the  old  man,  Waltour,  his  daughter 
and  two  sons,  were  at  work  in  the  field,  having  their  guns 
at  some  distance,  and  which  they  seized  on  the  appear- 
ance of  the  Indians,  and  made  towards  the  fort.  This 
was  one  of  those  stockades  or  block-houses  to  which  a 
few  families  of  the  neighbourhood  collected  in  times  of 
•danger,  and  going  to  their  fields  in  the  day,  returned  at 
night  to  this  place  of  security. 

These  persons  in  the  field  were  pursued  by  the  Indians 
and  the  young  woman  taken.  The  old  man  with  his  sons 
kept  U})  a  lire  as  they  retreated,  and  had  got  to  the  dis- 
tance of  about  an  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  fort 
when  the  old  man  fell.  An  Indian  had  got  upon  him 
and  was  about  to  take  his  scalp,  when  one  in  the  fort, 
directing  his  rifle,  fired  upon  the  Indian,  who  made  a 
horrid  yell  and  made  off',  limping  on  one  foot.  This 
was  in  fact  the  very  Indian,  as  it  now  appeared,  that 
had  come  to  the  town.  He  confessed  the  fact,  and  said, 
that  on  the  party  with  which  he  was,  being  pursued,  he 
had  hid  himself  in  the  bushes  a  few  yards  from  the 
path  along  which  the  people  from  the  fort  in  pursuit  of 
them  came. 

After  the  mischief  was  done,  a  party  of  our  people 
had  pursued  the  Indians  to  the  Allegheny  river,  tracing 
their  course,  and  had  found  the  body  of  the  you" 
woman  whom  they  had  taken  prisoner  but  had  ton 
hawked  and  left.   The  Indian,  as  we  have  said,  continu 


(  58  ) 

in^'  his  story  to  tlie  iiiterjireter,  gave  us  to  understand 
tliat  he  lay  three  days  without  niovinj;  from  the  ])laee 
where  he  first  threw  liinisclf  into  the  hushes,  until  a 
pursuit  might  he  over,  lest  he  should  he  tracked;  that 
after  this  he  had  got  along  on  his  hands  and  feet,  until 
he  found  this  pole  in  the  marsh  which  he  had  used  to 
assist  him,  and  in  the  meantime  had  lived  on  berries 
and  roots;  that  he  had  come  to  a  post  some  distance, 
and  thought  of  giving  himself  up,  and  lay  all  day  on  a 
hill  above  the  j/lace,  thinking  whether  he  would  or  not, 
but  seeing  tliat  they  were  all  militia  men  and  no  regu- 
lars he  did  not  venture. 

(The  Indians  well  know  the  distinction  between  re^iu- 
lars  and  militia,  and  from  these  last  they  exj)ect  no 
quarter.) 

The  post  of  which  he  spoke  was  about  12  miles  from 
Pittsburgh  on  the  Pennsylvania  road,  at  the  crossings 
of  what  is  called  Turtle  creek.  It  was  now  thirty-eight 
days  since  the  aflair  of  Waltour's  fort,  and  during  that 
time  this  miserable  creature  had  subsisted  on  plants 
and  roots,  and  had  made  his  way  on  one  foot  by  the 
help  of  the  pole.  According  to  his  account,  he  had  first 
attempted  a  course  to  his  own  country,  by  crossing  the 
Allegheny  river  a  considerable  distance  above  the  town, 
but  strength  fiiiling  to  accomplish  this,  he  had  wished 
to  gain  the  garrison  where  the  regular  troops  were,  hav- 
ing been  at  this  place  before  the  war;  and  in  fact  he 
was  now  known  to  some  of  the  garrison  by  the  name  of 
Davy.  I  saw  the  animal  in  the  garrison  after  his  con- 
fession, some  days,  and  was  struck  with  the  endeavours 
of  the  creature  to  conciliate  jrood  will  by  smiling  and 
affecting  placability  and  a  friendly  disposition. 


N 


■  I  <  .«|l(^      II^.PTIfWTfVRi.VK^i 


(  54  ) 


1^ 


1^ 


^«! 


! 


ii 


The  question  now  was  what  to  do  with  him.  From 
the  mode  of  war  carried  on  by  the  savages,  they  are  not 
entitled  to  the  laws  of  nations.  But  are  we  not  bound 
by  the  laws  of  nature,  to  spare  those  that  are  in  our 
power;  and  does  not  our  right  to  put  to  death  cease, 
when  an  enemy  ceases  to  have  it  in  his  power  to  injure 
us.  This  (liable  hoilleox,  or  devil  on  two  sticks,  as  they 
may  be  called,  hisi  leg  and  his  pole,  would  not  seem 
likely  to  come  to  war  again. 

In  the  mean  time  the  widow  of  the  man  who  had 
been  killed  at  Waltour's  fort,  and  mother  of  the  young 
woman  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  and  found  toma- 
hawked, accompanied  by  a  deputation  of  the  people  of  the 
settlement,  came  to  the  garrison,  and  addressing  them- 
selves to  the  commanding  oflicer,  demanded  that  the  In- 
dian should  1)6  delivered  uj),  that  it  might  be  done  with 
him  as  the  widow  and  mother  and  relations  of  the  deceased 
should  think  proi)er.  After  much  deliberation,  the  coun- 
try being  greatly  dissatisfied  that  he  was  spared,  and  a 
great  clamour  ])re vailing  through  the  settlement,  it  was 
thought  ailvisable,  to  let  them  take  him,  and  he  was 
accordingly  delivered  up  to  the  militia  of  the  party 
which  came  to  demand  him.  He  was  put  upon  a  horse 
and  carried  off  with  a  view  to  take  him  to  the  spot 
where  tlie  first  mischief  had  been  done,  (Waltour's 
fort.)  But  as  they  were  carrying  him  along,  liis  leg, 
the  fracture  of  which  by  this  time  was  almost  healed, 
the  surgeon  of  tlie  garrison  having  attended  to  it,  was 
broken  again  by  a  fall  from  the  horse,  which  had  hap- 
pened some  way  in  the  carrying  him. 

The  intention  of  the  jieople  was  to  summon  a  jury  of 
the  country  and  try  him,  at  least  for  the  sake  of  form, 
but  as  they  h Hedged,  in  order  to  ascertain  whether  he  was 


'^'Vi 


mm 


(  55  ) 

the  identical  Indian  that  had  been  of  the  party  at  Wal- 
tour's  fort,  though  it  is  not  very  probable  that  he  would 
have  had  an  impartial  trial,  there  having  l)een  a  consider- 
able prepossession  against  him.  The  circumstance  of 
being  an  Indian  would  have  been  sufficient  evidence  to 
condemn  him.  The  idea  was,  in  case  of  a  verdict  against 
him,  which  seemed  morally  certain,  to  execute  him,  ac- 
cording to  the  Indian  manner,  by  torture  and  burning. 
For  the  fate  of  Crawford  and  others  was  at  this  time  in 
the  minds  of  the  people,  and  they  thought  retaliation  a 
principle  of  natural  justice. 

But  while  the  Jury  were  collecting,  sometime  must 
elapse,  that  night  at  least,  for  he  was  brought  to  the  fort, 
or  block-house,  in  the  evening.  Accordingly  a  strong 
guard  was  a])pointed  to  take  care  of  him,  while  in  the 
mean  time,  one  who  had  been  deputed  sheriil"  went  to 
summon  a  jury,  and  otliers  to  collect  wood,  and  materials 
for  the  burning,  and  to  fix  upon  the  place,  which  was  to 
be  the  identical  s})ot  where  he  had  received  his  wound, 
while  about  to  scalp  the  man  whom  he  shot  in  the  field, 
just  as  he  was  raising  the  scalp  halloo,  twisting  his  hand 
in  the  hair  of  the  head,  and  brandishing  his  scalping- 
knife.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  guard  may  ))e  said 
to  have  been  oJS' their  guard  somewhat  on  aecount  of  the 
lameness  of  the  prisoner,  and  the  seeming  impossibility 
that  he  could  escape;  l)utit  so  turned  out  that  while  en- 
gaged in  conversation,  on  tiie  burning  that  was  to  take 
place,  or  by  some  other  means  inattentive,  he  had  climbed 
up  to  a  remote  corner  of  the  block-house,  where  he  was, 
and  got  to  the  joists,  and  from  thence  as  was  sui)posed, 
got  down  on  the  outside  between  the  roof  and  the  wall- 
plate,  for  the  block-house  is  so  constructed  that  the  roof 
overjuts  the  wall  of  the  l)lock-house,  resting  on  the  ends 


'■i 


I. 


W- 


\'i 


(  50  ) 

of  the  joists  that  protrude  a  foot  or  two  beyond  the  wall, 
for  the  purpose  of  those  within  firing  down  upon  the 
Indians,  who  may  ap])r()ach  the  house  to  set  fire  to  it,  or 
attempt  the  door,  liut  so  it  was  that  towards  morning 
the  Indian  was  missed,  and  when  the  jury  met,  there 
was  no  Indian  to  be  brought  before  them.  Search  had 
been  made  by  the  guard  every  where,  and  the  jury  joined 
in  the  search,  and  the  militia  went  out  in  all  directions, 
in  order  to  track  his  course  and  regain  the  prisoner. 
But  no  discovery  could  be  made,  and  the  guard  were 
much  blamed  for  the  want  of  vigilance,  though  some 
supposed  that  he  had  been  let  go  on  the  principle  of 
humanity,  that  they  might  not  be  under  the  necessity 
of  burning  him. 

The  search  had  been  abandoned;  but  three  days  after 
this,  a  lad  looking  for  his  horses,  saw  an  Indian  with  a 
pole  or  long  stick,  just  getting  on  one  of  them  by  the 
help  of  a  log,  or  trunk  of  a  fallen  tree;  he  had  made  a 
bridle  of  bark,  as  it  appeared,  which  was  on  the  horse's 
head,  and  with  which,  and  his  stick  guiding  the  horse, 
he  set  off  at  a  smart  trot,  in  a  direction  towards  the  fron- 
tier of  the  settlement.  The  boy  was  afraid  to  discover 
himself,  or  reclaim  his  horse,  but  ran  home  and  gave 
the  alarm,  on  which  a  party,  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
was  collected,  and  sat  out  in  pursuit  of  the  Indian  ;  they 
tracked  the  horse  until  it  was  dark,  and  were  then 
obliged  to  lie  by;  but  in  the  morning,  taking  it  again, 
they  tracked  the  horse  as  before,  but  found  the  course 
varied,  taking  into  branches  of  streams  to  prevent  [)ur- 
suit,  ai.d  which  greatly  delayed  them,  recjuiring  con- 
siderable time  tracing  the  stream  and  to  find  where 
the  horse  had  taken  the  bank  and  come  out;  sometimes 
taking  along  hard  ridges,  though  not   directly  in  hia 


1 


I 

'A' 


I 


Bfctf  ,c;r»i- 


«■ 


r^fi^mm 


(57  ) 

course,  where  the  tracks  of  the  horse  could  not  be  seen. 
In  this  manner  he  had  got  on  to  the  Allegheny  river, 
where  they  found  the  horse  with  the  bark  bridle,  and 
where  he  appeared  to  have  been  left  but  a  short  time 
before.  The  sweat  was  scarcely  dry  upon  his  sides  ;  for 
the  weather  was  warm  and  he  appeared  to  have  been 
rode  hard ;  the  distance  he  had  come  was  about  1)0  miles. 
It  was  presumed  the  Indian  had  swam  the  river,  into 
the  uninhabited  and  what  was  then  called  the  Indian 
Country,  where  it  was  unsafe  for  the  small  party  that 
were  in  pursuit  to  follow. 

After  the  war,  I  took  some  pains  to  inform  myself 
whether  he  had  made  his  way  good  to  the  Indian  towns, 
the  nearest  of  which  was  Sandusky,  at  the  distance  of 
about  200  miles ;  but  it  appeared  that  after  all  his  eflbrts 
he  had  been  unsuccessful,  and  had  not  reached  home. 
He  had  been  drowned  in  the  river  or  famished  in  the 
woods,  or  his  broken  limb  had  occasioned  his  death. 

In  like  manner  I  have  made  incpiiry  respecting  the 
Indian  who  had  Doctor  Knight  in  custody  when  he 
made  his  escape;  for  I  had  myself  taken  down,  from  the 
Doctor's  own  mouth,  the  narrative  of  his  escape,  and 
could  not  conceive,  nor  could  the  Doctor  say,  why  it  wag 
that  the  gun,  when  he  presented  it  to  the  Indian,  and 
snapped  it,  did  not  go  off.  The  Indian  himself  had 
been  surprised  at  it,  and  did  not  recollect  that  he  had 
plugged  the  touch-hole  to  keep  it  from  the  wet,  nor 
did  the  Doctor  discover  this.  The  Indian,  to  excuse 
himself,  had  represented  the  Doctor  as  a  man  of  great 
stature  and  strength,  but  the  Indians  laughed  at  him 
when  they  came  to  know,  and  were  informed  by  some 
from  the  other  town  that  had  seen  him  sent  on,  that  he 
was  a  man  of  small  stature  and  of  little  strength. 


l\    I 


{■■''\    * 


I  ' 


I:   i 


If. 


I 


I 


(  08   ) 


Affecting  History  of  the  Dreadful  Distresses  of  Fredkkio 

Manheim's  Family. 

FREDERIC  Manheim,  an  industrious  German,  with 
his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife,  Catharine, 
a  daufihter  of  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  Maria  and 
Christina,  his  youngest  children,  (twins,)  about  sixteen, 
resided  nenr  the  river  Mohawk,  eight  miles  west  of 
Johnston.  ( )n  the  10th  of  October,  1770,  the  father  being 
at  work  at  some  distance  from  his  habitation,  and  the 
mother  and  eldest  daughter  on  a  visit  at  a  neighbour's, 
two  hostile  Canasadaga  Indians  rushed  in  and  captured 
the  twin  sisters. 

The  party  to  which  these  savages  belonged,  consisted 
of  fifty  warriors,  who,  after  securing  twenty-three  of  the 
inhabitants  of  that  neighborhood,  (among  whom  was 
the  unfortunate  Frederic  Manheim,)  and  liring  their 
houses,  retired  for  four  days  with  the  utmost  precipi- 
tancy, till  they  were  <)uite  safe  from  pursuit.  The  place 
where  they  halted  on  the  evening  of  the  day  of  rest, 
was  a  thick  pine  swamp,  which  rendered  the  darkness 
of  an  uncommonly  gloomy  night  still  more  dreadful. 
The  Indians  kindled  a  fire,  which  they  had  not  done 
before,  and  ordered  their  i)risoners,  whom  they  kept 
together,  to  refresh  themselves  with  such  j)rovisions  as 
they  had.  The  Indians  ate  by  themselves.  Instead  of 
retiring  to  rest  after  su))ping,  the  appalled  captives  ob- 
served their  enemies  busied  in  operations  which  boded 
notiiing  good.  Two  saplings  were  j)runed  clear  of 
branches  up  to  the  very  toj),  and  all  he  brush  c'eared 
away  for  several  rods  around  them.  While  this  was 
doing,  others  were  splitting  i)itch  pine  billets  into  small 


i 


^1 


r.V». -»•-'-"- 


4 


(  59  ) 

splinter?  above  five  inches  in  length,  and  as  small  as 
one's  little  finger,  sharpening  one  end,  and  dipping  the 
other  in  melted  turpentine. 

At  length,  with  countenances  distorted  by  infernal  fury, 
and  with  hideous  yells,  the  two  savages  who  had  caj)tured 
the  haple.3s  Maria  and  Christina,  leaped  into  the  midst 
of  their  circle,  and  dragged  those  ill-fated  maidens, 
shrieking,  from  the  embraces  of  their  companions. — 
Those  warriors  had  disagreed  about  whose  property  the 
girls  should  be,  as  they  had  jointly  seized  them;  and,  to 
terminate  the  dispute,  agreeably  to  the  abominable  usage 
of  the  savages,  it  was  determined  by  the  chiefs  of  the 
party,  that  the  prisoners,  who  gave  rise  to  the  conten- 
tion, should  be  destroyed;  and  that  their  captors  should 
be  the  principal  agents  in  the  execrable  business.  These 
furies,  assisted  by  their  comrades,  stripped  the  lorlorn 
girls,  already  convulsed  with  apprehensions,  and  tied 
each  to  a  sapling,  with  their  hands  as  high  extended  above 
their  heads  as  possible;  and  then  pitched  them,  from 
their  knees  to  their  shoulders,  with  upwards  of  six  hun- 
dred of  the  sharpened  si)linters  above  described,  which, 
at  every  puncture,  were  attended  with  screams  of  dis- 
tress, that  eclioed  and  re-echoed  through  the  wilderness* 
And  then,  to  complete  the  infernal  tragedy,  the  splinters, 
all  standing  erect  on  the  bl(;eding  victims,  were  every 
one  set  on  fire,  and  exhibited  a  scene  of  monstrous  misery, 
beyond  the  power  of  speech  to  describe,  or  even  the 
imagination  to  conceive.  It  was  not  until  near  three 
hours  had  elapsed  from  the  commencement  of  their  tor- 
ments, and  tlu'V  had  lost  almost  every  r(\semblanee  of 
the  human  form,  that  these  hapless  virgins  sunk  into 
the  arms  of  their  deliverer,  Death. 


I 

1^  \. 


i  > 


m 


rpi 


(00) 


Sufferings  of  the  Rev.  John  Corrly  and  Family  from 
the  Indians.  Related  in  a  Letter  to  the  Rev.  William 
RodEiiH,  late  Pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Philadelphia. 

Dear  Sir, 

I  HE  following  is  a  just  and   true  account  of  the 
JL      tragical  scene,  of  my  family's  falling  by  the  sav- 
ages, which  I  rehited  when  at  your  house  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  you  requested  me  to  forward  in  writing.     On 
the  second  Sabbath  in  May,  in  the  year  1782,  being  my 
appointment  at  one  of  my  meeting  houses,  about  a  mile 
from  my  dwelling  house,  I  sat  out  with   my  dear  wife 
and  five  children,  for  public  worship.     Not  suspecting 
any  danger,  I  walked  behind  200  yards,  with  my  Bible 
in  my  hand,  meditating — as  I  was  thus  employed,  all 
of  a  sudden,  I  was  greatly  alarmed  with  the  frightful 
shrieks  of  my  dear  family  before  me — I  immediately 
ran,  with  all  the  speed  I  could,  vainly  hunting  a  club  as 
I  ran,  till  I  got  within  40  yards  of  them;  my  poor  wife 
seeing  me,  cried  to  me  to  make  my  escape — an  Indian 
ran  up  to  shoot  me.     I  had  to  strip,  and  by  so  doing  out- 
ran him.     My  wife  had  a  sucking  child  in  her  arms :  this 
little  infant  they  killed  and  scalped.    They  then  struck 
my  wife  several  times,  but  not  getting  her  down,  the 
Indian  who  aimed  to  shoot  me,  ran  to  her,  shot  her 
through  the  body,  and  scalped  her :  my  little  V)oy,  an  only 
son,  about  six  years  old,  they  sunk  the  hatchet  into  his 
brains,  and  thus  despatched  him.     A  daughter,  besides 
the  infant,  they  also  killed  and  scalped.      My  eldest 
daughter,  who  is  yet  alive,  was  hid  in  a  tree,  about  20 
yards  from  the  place  where  tlie  rest  were  killed,  and  saw 
the  whole  proceedings.    She,  seeing  the  Indians  all  go 


(  61  ) 


\ 


off,  as  she  thought,  got  up,  and  deliberately  crept  out 
from  the  hollow  trunk;  but  one  of  them  espying  her. 
ran  hastily  up,  knocked  her  down,  and  scalped  her — 
also  her  only  surviving  sister,  one  on  whose  head  they 
did  not  leave  more  than  an  inch  round,  either  of  flesh 
or  skin,  besides  taking  a  piece  out  of  her  skull.     She, 
and  the  before-mentioned  one,  are  still  miraculously  pre- 
served, though,  as  you  must  think,  I  have  had,  and  still 
have,  a  great  deal  of  troul)le  and  exj)ense  with  thera, 
besides  anxiety  about  them,  insomuch  that  I  am,  as  to 
worldly  circumstnnces,  almost  ruined.      I  am  yet  in 
hopes  of  seeing  them  cured;  they  still,  blessed  be  God, 
retain  their  senses,  notwithstanding  the  painful  opera- 
tions they  have  already  and  must  yet  pass  through.    At 
the  time  I  ran  round  to  see  what  was  become  of  my 
family,  and  found  my  dear  and  effectionate  wife,  with 
five  children,  all  scalped  in  less  than  ten  minutes,  from 
the  first  outset — no  one,  my  dear  l)rother,  can  conceive 
how  I  felt — this,  you  may  well  sui)pose,  was  killing  to 
me.     I  instantly  fainted  away,  and  was  borne  off  by  a 
friend,  who  by  this  time  had  found  us  out — When  I 
recovered,  oh  the  anguish  of  my  soul! — I  cried — would 
to  God  I  had  died  for  them,  would  to  God  I  had  died 
with  them.     Oh  how  dark  and  mysterious  did  this  try- 
ing providence  then  appear  to  me!  but — 

"Why  should  I  grieve — when  grieving,  I  must  bear?" 
This,  dear  sir,  is  a  faithful,  though  short  narrative  of 
that  fatal  catastrophe — and  my  life  amidst  it  all,  for 
what  purpose,  Jehovali  only  knows,  redeemed  from  sur- 
rounding death — Oh,  may  I  spend  it  to  the  praise  and 
glory  of  his  grace,  who  worketh  all  things  after  the 
council  of  his  own  will.  The  government  of  the  world 
and  of  the  church,  is  in  his  hands. — May  it  be  taught 


(  «2  ) 


m 


U 


% 


the  important  lesson  of  acquiescing  in  all  his  dispensa- 
tions, I  conclude  with  wishing  you  every  blessing,  and 
subscribe  myself, 

Your  affectionate,  though   afflicted   friend,  and  un- 
worthy brother  in  the  gospel  ministry, 

JOHN  CORBLY. 
Muddy  Creek;  Washington  \ 
County,  July  .9,  1785.        j 


Remarkable  Eucaunter  of  a  White  Man  with  two  Indians. 
In  a  Letter  to  a  Gentleman  of  Philadelphia. 

Dear  Sir, 

I  WROTE  you  a  note,  a  few  days  ago,  in  which  I 
promisi'd  you  the  particulars  of  an  affair  between 
a  white  man  of  this  county,  and  two  Indians.  Now  I 
mean  to  relate  the  whole  story,  and  it  is  as  follows : 

The  white  man  is  upwards  of  sixty  years  of  age;  his 
name  is  David  Morgan,  a  kinsman  of  col.  Morgan,  of 
the  rifle  battalion.  This  man  had,  through  fear  of  the 
Indians,  fled  to  a  fort  about  twenty  miles  above  the 
province  line,  and  near  the  east  side  of  the  Monongahela 
river.  From  thence  lie  sent  some  of  his  younger  chil- 
dren to  his  plantation,  which  was  a  mile  distant,  there 
to  do  some  business  in  the  field.  He  afterwards  thought 
fit  to  follow,  and  see  how  they  fared.  Getting  to  his 
field,  and  seating  himself  upon  the  fence,  within  view 
of  his  children,  where  they  were  at  work,  he  espied  two 
Indians  making  towards  them ;  on  which  he  called  to 
his  children  to  make  their  escape.  The  Indians  imme- 
diately bent  their  course  towards  him.     He  made  the 


(  63  ) 

best  haste  to  escape  away,  that  his  age  and  consequent 
infirmity  would  permit;  but  soon  found  he  would  be 
overtaken,  which  made  him  think  of  defence.  Being 
armed  with  a  good  rifle,  he  faced  about,  and  found  him- 
self under  the  necessity  of  running  four  or  five  perches 
towards  the  Indians,  in  order  to  obtain  shelter  behind  a 
tree  of  sufficient  size. 

This  unexpected  manoeuvre  obliged  the  Indians,  who 
were  close  by,  to  stop,  where  they  had  but  small  timber 
to  shelter  behind,  whichgavelMr.  Morgan  an  opportunity 
of  shooting  one  of  them  dead  upon  the  spot.  The  other, 
taking  the  advantage  of  Morgan's  empty  gun,  advanced 
upon  him  and,  j)ut  him  to  flight  a  second  time,  and  being 
lighter  of  foot  than  the  old  man,  soon  came  up  within  a 
few  paces,  when  he  fired  at  him,  but  fortunately  missed 
him.  On  this,  Mr.  Morgan  faced  about  again,  to  try  his 
fortune,  and  clubbed  his  firelock.  The  Indian,  by  this 
time,  had  got  his  tomahawk  in  order  for  a  throw,  at 
which  they  are  very  dextrous.  Morgan  made  the  blow^ 
and  the  Indian  the  throw,  almost  at  the  same  instant, 
by  which  the  little  finger  was  cutoff  Morgan's  left  hand, 
and  the  one  next  to  it  almost  ofi",  and  his  gun  broke  ofl' 
by  the  lock.  Now  they  came  to  close  grips.  Morgan 
put  the  Indian  down  ;  but  soon  found  himself  over- 
turned, and  the  Indian  upon  him,  feeling  for  his  knife, 
and  yelling  most  hideously,  us  their  maimer  is,  when  they 
look  upon  victory  to  be  certain.  However,  a  woman's 
apron,  which  the  Indian  had  plun'lered  out  of  a  house  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  tied  on  him,  above  his  knife,  was 
now  in  his  way,  and  so  hindered  him  getting  at  itcpiickly, 
that  Morgan  got  one  of  his  fingers  fast  in  liis  mouth, 
and  deprived  him  of  the  use  of  that  hand,  by  holding 
it,  and  disconcerted  him  considerablv  bv  chewing  it;  all 


l 


! 


% 


((;4  ) 

the  while  observing  liow  he  would  corae  on  with  his 
knife.  At  length  the  Indian  had  got  hold  of  his  knife, 
but  80  far  towards  the  blade,  that  Morgan  got  a  small 
hold  on  the  hinder  end ;  and  as  the  Indian  pulled  it  out 
of  the  scabbard,  Morgan  giving  his  finger  a  severe  screw 
with  his  teeth,  twitched  it  out  through  his  hand,  cutting 
it  most  grievously.  By  this  time  they  were  both  got 
partly  on  their  feet;  the  Indian  was  endeavouring  to 
disengage  himself;  but  Morgan  held  fast  by  the  finger, 
and  (quickly  applied  the  point  of  the  knife  to  the  side  of 
the  savage ;  a  bone  happening  in  the  way,  prevented  its 
penetrating  any  great  depth,  but  a  second  blow,  directed 
more  towards  the  belly,  found  free  passage  into  his 
bowels.  The  old  man  turned  the  point  upwards,  made 
a  large  Avound,  burying  the  knife  therein,  and  so  look 
his  departure  instantly  to  the  fort,  with  the  news  of  his 
adventure. 

On  the  report  of  Mr.  Morgan,  a  party  went  out  from 
the  fort,  and  found  the  first  Indian  where  he  had  fallen ; 
the  second  they  found  not  yet  dead,  at  one  hundred 
yards  distance  from  the  scene  of  action,  hid  in  the  top 
of  a  fallen  tree,  where  he  had  picked  the  knife  out  of 
his  body,  after  which  had  come  out  parched  corn,  c'ec, 
and  had  bound  up  his  wound  with  the  apron  aforemen- 
tioned; and  on  first  sight  he  saluted  them  with.  How 
do  do,  broder,  how  do  do,  broder?  But  alas!  poor 
savage,  their  brotherhood  to  him  extended  only  to  toma- 
hawking, scalping,  and,  to  gratify  some  j)eculiar  feelings 
of  their  own,  skinning  them  both ;  and  they  have  made 
drum  heads  of  their  skins. 

Westmoreland,  A^wil  20,  1779. 


# 


r 

d- 1 


(65) 


Singular  Prowess  of  a  Woman,  in  a  Combat  vrith  some  In- 
dians.   In  a  Letter  to  a  Lady  of  this  City  ^Philadelphia.'] 

Madam: — 

I  HAVE  wrote  to  Mr. ,  of  your  city,  an  account 
of  a  very  particular  affair  between  a  whiic  man  and 
two  Indians.  I  am  now  to  give  you  a  relation  in  which 
you  will  see  how  a  person  of  your  sex  acquitted  herself 
in  defence  of  her  own  life  and  that  of  her  husband  and 
children. 

The  lady  who  is  the  burthen  of  this  story,  is  named 
Experience  Bozarth.  She  lives  on  a  creek  called  Dunk- 
ark  creek,  in  the  southwest  corner  of  this  county.  About 
the  middle  of  March  last,  two  or  three  families,  who 
were  afraid  to  stay  at  home,  gathered  to  her  house  and 
there  stayed ;  looking  on  themselves  to  be  safer  than 
when  all  scattered  about  at  their  own  houses. 

On  a  certain  day,  some  of  the  children  thus  collected, 
came  running  in  from  play,  in  great  haste,  saying,  there 
were  ugly  red  men.  One  of  the  men  in  the  house  step- 
ped to  the  door,  where  he  received  a  ball  in  the  side  of 
his  breast,  which  caused  him  to  fall  back  into  the  house. 
The  Indian  was  immediately  in  over  him,  and  engaged 
with  another  man  who  was  in  the  house.  The  man 
tossed  the  Indian  on  abed,  and  called  for  a  knife  to  kill 
him.  (Observe,  these  were  all  the  men  that  were  in  the 
house.)  Now  Mrs.  Bozarth  aj)pears  the  only  defence, 
who  not  finding  a  knife  at  hand,  took  up  an  axe  that  lay 
by,  and  with  one  blow  cut  out  the  brains  of  the  Indian. 
At  that  instant,  (  for  all  was  instantaneous,)  a  second 
Indian  entered  the  door,  and  shot  the  man  dead,  who 
was  engaged  with  the  Indian  on  the  bed.     Mrs.  Bozarth 


m 


rir 


(60) 

He   bawled   out,  m  Jler    „     ,      *"'  '""•""«  "PP^ar. 

other  Indians  (who    ad  h'itSt      °"  ""'^^  ^"'"''r 
f^'lling  some  children  out  „f^        ^^"^  ^"'^y  ""ployed 

->ief ;  the  head  of^ne  oAwTJ  r^  l""""«  '°  '- 
^'.'th  her  axe,  as  he  stuek  it Tn  Iuhe"7"'  ''"^'^'"  '"<> 
hm  flat  upon  the  sill.  Another  ?!  ,  "7'  "^''^^  '"^ 
wounded,  bellowing  fellow  a^S',""';^'^''  '""''  "f  the 
"•"I  Jfre.  liozarth,  with  «',!"'  ^f"^  ''""  ""t  of  doors, 
"-  first  shot  in  t  doo r  „7r ".r  "'  ""'  """>  "^o 
covered,  shut  the  door  after  th"^  ^''  ','""'  "  '""^  ^«- 
where  they  kent  ,r.,„i°I  T       ''^"'  ""^  made  it  fast 

-an  and  iaffir  ^tllXf  ''''^»'  ">«  ^-^  whife' 
the  Indians  about  the  hout  L       • ""'"  "'"'  "'«'"■  ""d 
th.v  were  relieved  b;  a^aTty  Sfo?  li'T'     ^'  '^"^^ 
This  whole  affair  to  shnff-       .1  ""^  Purpose. 

"aps,  ™ore  than  thr^ritr^nr  ""^  ""'  "^^^ 
J^e..6«ore^an^,  April  26,  I779.  "^  ^"^'  *c. 


Of  For^S  &«;*:::  1"*-°  ">"  --ard 
was  carried  by  them  to  the  wtbl'' 'v?  ^"'"""^•'">'' 
white  men,  who  were  execut^  „  ,k'  •  *''  '"''"^'  "">'<> 
horrid  barbarity;  it  wa  Z  IJ'I'  ,""'? ''"'"^^  "^ 
the  sympathy  of  Rose   calLffK  ?"  '"  <"*"  ''oMh 

t-n,  who  waspermiSd     '  ed    ^r"  T"'-  "'  'he 
8'"n«,  as  my  ransom,  a  house  ""  "'■"""«'  hy 


f 


(  ^7  ) 

After  remaining  2  years  in  bondage  amongst  the  In- 
dians, a  Spaniard  came  to  tiie  nation,  having  been  sent 
from  Mexico  on  discoveries.  He  made  application  to 
the  chiefs,  for  redeeming  me  and  another  white  man  in 
the  like  situation,  a  native  of  Wales,  named  John 
Davey ;  which  they  complied  with,  and  we  took  our  de- 
parture in  company  with  the  Spaniard,  and  travelled  to 
the  westward,  crossing  the  Missi^^sippi  near  la  Riviere 
Rough,  or  Red  River,  up  which  we  travelled  700  miles, 
when  we  came  to  a  nation  of  Indians  remarkably  white, 
and  whose  hair  was  of  a  reddish  colour,  at  least  mostly 
so;  they  lived  on  the  bank  of  a  small  river  that  empties 
itself  into  the  Red  River,  which  is  called  the  River  Post. 
In  the  morning  of  the  day  after  our  arrival  amongst 
these  Indians,  the  Welchman  informed  me,  that  he  was 
determined  to  remain  with  them,  giving  as  a  reason  that 
he  understood  their  language,  it  being  very  little  differ- 
ent from  the  Welch.  My  curiosity  was  excited  very 
much  by  this  information,  and  I  went  with  my  com- 
panion to  the  chief  men  of  the  town,  who  informed  him 
(in  a  language  I  had  no  knowledge  of,  and  which  had 
no  affinity  to  that  of  any  other  Indian  tongue  I  ever 
heard)  that  their  fore- fathers  of  this  nation  came  from  a 
foreign  country,  and  landed  on  the  east  side  of  tiie  Mis- 
sissippi, describing  particularly  the  country  now  called 
West  Florida,  and  thaton  the  Spaniards  taking  possession 
of  Mexico,  they  lied  to  their  then  abode;  and  as  a  proof 
of  the  truth  of  what  he  advanced,  he  brought  forth  rolls 
of  parchment,  which  were  carefully  tied  up  in  otter 
skins,  on  which  were  large  characters,  written  with  })lue 
ink ;  the  characters  I  did  not  understand,  and  the 
Welchman  being  unacquainted  with  letters,  even  of  his 
own  language,  I  was  not  able  to  know  the  meaning  of 


(68) 


the  writing.  They  are  a  bold,  hardy,  intrepid  people, 
very  warlike,  and  the  women  beautiful,  when  compared 
with  other  Indians. 

We  left  this  nation,  after  being  kindly  treated  and 
requested  to  remain  among  them,  being  only  two  in 
number,  the  Spaniard  and  myself,  and  we  continued 
our  course  up  the  waters  of  the  Red  River,  till  we  came 
to  a  nation  of  Indians,  called  Windots,  that  had  never 
seen  a  white  man  before,  and  who  were  unacquainted 
with  the  use  of  fire  arms.  On  our  way,  we  came  to  a 
transparent  stream,  which,  to  our  great  surprize,  we 
found  to  descend  into  the  earth,  and,  at  the  foot  of  a 
ridge  of  mountains,  disappeared;  it  was  remarkably 
clear,  and,  near  to  it,  we  found  the  bones  of  two  animals, 
of  such  a  size  that  a  man  might  walk  under  the  ribs, 
and  the  teeth  were  v&ry  heavy. 

The  natio  \  of  Indians  who  had  never  seen  a  white 
man,  lived  near  the  source  of  the  Red  River,  and  there 
the  Spaniard  discovered,  to  his  great  joy,  gold  dust  in 
the  brooks  and  rivulets;  and  being  informed  by  the 
Indians,  that  a  nation  lived  farther  west,  who  were  very 
rich,  and  whose  arrows  were  pointed  with  gold,  we  set 
out  in  the  hope  of  reaching  their  country,  and  travelled 
about  five  hundred  miles,  till  we  came  to  a  ridge  of 
mountains,  which  we  crossed,  and  from  which  the 
streams  run  due  west,  and  at  the  foot  of  tlie  mountains, 
the  Spaniard  gave  proofs  of  joy  and  great  satisfaction, 
having  found  gold  in  great  abundance.  I  was  not 
acquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  ore,  but  I  lifted  up 
what  he  called  gold  dust  from  the  bottom  of  the  little 
rivulets  issuing  from  the  cavities  of  the  rocks,  and  it 
had  a  yellow  cast,  and  was  remarkal)ly  heavy :  but  so 
much  was  the  Spaniiird  satisfied,  he  relinquished  his 


li 


J 


(  69) 

plan  of  prosecuting  his  journey,  being  perfectly  con- 
vinced that  he  had  found  a  country  full  of  gold. 

On  our  return  he  took  a  different  rout,  and,  when  we 
reached  the  Mississippi,  we  went  in  a  canoe  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Missouri,  where  we  found  a  Spanish  post; 
there  I  was  discharged  by  the  Spaniard,  went  to  the 
country  of  the  Chickesaws,  from  thence  to  the  Cherokees, 
and  soon  reached  Nin3ty-8ix,  in  South  Carolina. 


V; 


Accou  nt  of  the  Sufferings  of  Massy  Herbesox  and  her  Family, 
ivho  were  taken  Prisoners  by  a  I\irty  of  Indians.  Given 
on  Oath,  before  John  Wilkins,  Esq.  one  of  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  for  the  Commodwealth  of  Pennsylvania. 

MASSY  HP:RBES0N,  on  her  oath,  according  to  law, 
being  taken  before  John  Wilkins,  Esq.  one  of 
the  commonwealth's  justices  of  the  peace  in  and  for  the 
county  of  Alleghany,  deposeth  and  saith,  that  on  the 
22d  day  of  this  instant,  she  was  taken  from  her  own 
house,  within  two  hundred  yards  of  Reed's  block-house, 
which  is  called  twenty-five  miles  from  Pittsburgh; 
her  husband,  being  one  of  the  sjiies,  was  from  home ; 
two  of  the  scouts  had  lodged  with  her  that  ni^'ht,  but 
had  left  her  house  about  sunrise,  in  order  to  go  to  the 
block-house,  and  had  left  the  door  standing  wide  open. 
Shortly  after  the  two  scouts  went  away,  a  number  of  In- 
dians came  into  the  house,  and  drew  her  out  of  bed  by 
the  feet;  the  two  eldest  children,  who  also  lay  in  another 
bed  were  drawn  out  in  the  same  manner;  a  younger 
child,  about  one  year  old,  slept  with  the  deponent.  The 
Indians  then  scrambled  about  the  articles  in  the  house: 


(70) 


f 


I,  \ 


when  they  Avere  at  this  work,  the  deponent  went  out  of 
the  house,  and  hallooed  to  the  people  in  the  block-house; 
one  of  the  Indians  then  ran  up  and  stopped  her  mouth, 
another  ran  up  with  his  tomahawk  drawn,  and  a  third 
ran  and  seized  the  tomahawk  and  called  her  his  squaw; 
this  last  Indian  claimed  her  as  his,  and  continued  by 
her;  about  fifteen  of  the  Indians  then  ran  down  toward 
the  block-house  and  fired  their  guns  at  the  block  and 
store-house,  in  conse(iuence  of  which  one  soldier  was 
killed  and  another  wounded,  one  having  been  at  the 
spring,  and  the  other  in  coming  or  looking  out  of  the 
store-house.  This  deponent  then  told  the  Indians  there 
were  about  forty  men  in  the  block-house,  and  each  man 
had  two  guns,  the  Indians  then  went  to  them  that  were 
firing  at  the  block-house,  and  brought  them  back.  They 
then  began  to  drive  the  deponent  and  her  children  away ; 
but  a  boy,  about  tiiree  years  old,  being  unwilling  to  leave 
the  house,  they  took  it  by  the  heels,  and  dashed  it  against 
the  house,  then  stabbed  and  scalped  it.  They  then  took 
the  deponent  and  the  two  other  children  to  the  top  of 
the  hill,  where  they  stopped  until  they  tied  up  the  plun- 
der they  had  got.  While  they  were  Inisy  about  this, 
the  deponent  counted  them,  and  the  number  amounted 
to  thirty-two,  including  two  white  men,  that  were  with 
them,  painted  like  the  Indians. 

That  several  of  the  Indians  could  speak  English,  and 
that  slie  knew  three  or  four  of  them  very  well,  having 
often  s(>en  them  go  up  and  down  the  Alleghany  river; 
two  of  them  she  knew  to  i)eSeneccas,  and  two  Munsees, 
who  had  got  their  guns  mended  by  her  husband  al)out 
two  years  ago.  Tiiat  they  sent  two  Indians  with  lier, 
and  the  otliers  took  their  course  towards  Puckty.  That 
she,  the  children,  and  the  two  Indians  had  not  gone 


I 


:ii 


(  71  ) 


th 


kit 
at 


>: 


above  two  hundred  yards,  when  the  Indians  caught  two 
of  her  uncle's  horses,  i)Ut  her  and  the  youngest  cliild  on 
one,  and  one  of  the  Indians  and  the  other  child  on  the 
other.  That  the  two  Indians  then  took  her  and  the 
children  to  tlie  Alleghany  river,  and  took  them  over  in 
bark  canoes,  as  they  could  not  get  the  horses  to  swim  the 
river.  After  they  had  crossed  the  river,  the  oldest  child, 
a  boy  of  about  five  years  of  age,  began  to  mourn  for  his 
brother;  one  of  the  Indians  then  tomahawked  and 
scalped  him.  That  they  travelled  all  day  very  hard, 
and  that  night  arrived  at  a  large  camp  covered  with 
bark,  which,  by  appearance,  might  hold  fifty  men;  tiiat 
the  camp  ap})eared  to  have  been  occupied  some  time,  it 
was  very  much  beaten,  and  large  beaten  i»atlis  went  out 
in  diiferent  directions  from  it ;  tliat  night  they  took  her 
about  three  hundred  yards  from  the  cam]),  into  a  large 
dark  bottom,  bound  her  arms,  gave  her  some  bed  clothes, 
and  lay  down  one  on  each  side  of  her.  That  the  next 
morning  they  took  her  into  a  tliicket  on  the  hill  side, 
and  one  remained  with  her  till  the  middle  of  the  day, 
while  the  other  went  to  watch  the  path,  least  some  wiiite 
})eople  should  follow  them.  They  then  exclianged  ]jlace8 
during  the  remainder  of  the  day  ;  she  got  a  j)iece  of  dry 
V(!nison,  about  tlie  bulk  of  an  egg,  that  day,  and  a  piece 
about  the  same  size  the  day  they  were  marching;  that 
evening,  (Wednesday  the  23d)  they  moved  her  to  a  new 
jtlace,  and  secured  lier  as  the  niglit  before:  during  the 
day  of  the  23d,  she  n)ade  several  attempts  to  gtt  the 
Indian's  gun  (>i'  tonudiawk,  that  was  guarding  her,  and, 
had  she  succeeded,  s'ne  would  have  put  him  to  death. 
She  was  nearly  detected  in  trying  to  get  the  U)mahavvk 
from  his  belt. 


! 


(72  ) 

The  next  morning  (Thursday)  one  of  the  Indians 
went  out,  as  on  the  day  before,  to  watch  the  path.  The 
other  lay  down  and  fell  asleep.  When  she  found  he  was 
sleeping,  she  stole  her  short  gown,  handkerchief,  a  child's 
frock,  and  then  made  her  escape ; — the  sun  was  then 
about  half  an  hour  high — that  she  took  her  course  from 
the  Alleghany,  in  order  to  deceive  the  Indians,  as  they 
would  naturally  pursue  her  that  way;  that  day  she 
travelled  along  Conequenessing  creek.  Tlie  next  day 
she  altered  her  course,  and,  as  she  believes,  fell  upon  the 
waters  of  Pine  creek,  which  empties  into  the  Alleghany. 
Thinking  this  not  her  best  course,  took  over  some 
dividing  ridges,  fell  in  on  the  heads  of  Squaw  run, 
she  lay  on  a  dividing  ridge  on  Friday  night,  and 
on  Saturday  came  to  Squaw  run,  continued  down  the 
run  until  an  Indian,  or  some  other  person,  shot  at  a 
deer ;  she  saw  the  person  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  from  her,  the  deer  running  and  the  dog  pursuing 
it,  which,  from  the  appearance,  she  supposed  to  be  an 
Indian  dog. 

She  then  altered  her  course,  but  again  came  to  the 
same  run,  and  continued  down  it  until  she  got  so  tired 
that  she  was  obliged  to  lie  down,  it  having  rained  on  her 
all  that  day  and  tin  night  before ;  she  lay  there  that 
night;  it  rained  constantly;  on  Sunday  morning  she 
proceeded  down  the  run  until  she  came  to  the  Alleghany 
river,  and  continued  down  the  river  till  she  came  oppo- 
site to  Carter's  house,  on  the  inhabited  side,  where  she 
made  a  noise,  and  .nes  Ciosier  brought  her  over  the 
river  to  Carter's  house. 

This  deponent  further  says,  that  in  conversation  with 
one  of  the  Indians,  that  could  talk  English  very  well, 
which  she  suspects  to  oe  George  Jelloway,  he  asked  her 


(  73  ) 

if  she  knew  the  prisoner  that  was  taken  by  Jeffers  and 
his  Seneccas,  and  in  jail  at  Pittsburgh  ?  She  answered 
no — he  said,  you  lie.  She  again  said  she  knew  nothing 
about  him ;  he  said  she  did,  that  he  was  a  spy,  and  a 
great  captain;  that  he  took  Butler's  scalp,  and  they 
would  have  him  or  twenty  scalps ;  he  again  said,  that 
they  would  exchange  for  him;  that  he  and  two  more 
was  sent  out  to  see  what  the  Americans  were  doing; 
that  they  came  round  from  Detroit  to  Venango;  the  In- 
dian took  paper,  and  shewed  her  that  he,  at  F'ort  Pitt, 
could  write  and  draw  on  it ;  he  also  asked  her  if  a 
campai,p;n  was  going  out  against  the  Indians  this  sum- 
mer— she  said  no — he  called  her  a  liar,  and  paid  they 
were  going  out,  and  that  the  Indians  would  serve  them 
as  they  did  last  year;  he  also  said  the  English  had  guns, 
ammunition,  etc.  to  give  them  to  go  to  war,  and  that 
they  had  given  them  plenty  last  year;  this  deponent 
also  says,  that  she  saw  one  of  the  Indians  have  captain 
Crib's  sword,  which  she  well  knew.  That  one  of  the 
Indians  asked  her  if  she  knew  Thomas  Girty,  she  said 
she  did — he  then  said  that  Girty  lived  near  Fort  Pitt ; 
that  he  was  a  good  man,  but  not  as  good  as  his  brother 
at  Detroit;  but  that  his  wife  was  a  bad  woman :  she  tells 
lies  on  the  Indians,  and  is  a  friend  to  America. 

Sv^orn  before  me  at  Pittsburgh,  this  '28th  day  of  May, 
1792. 

JOHN  WILKINS. 


(74  ) 


Sufferinffs  of  Peter  Williamson,  one  of  the  Settlers  in  the 
B(ick  Parts  of  Pennsylmnia.     Written  by  Himself. 

"T"  WAS  born  within  ten  miles  of  the  town  of  Aber- 
1  deen,  in  the  north  of  Scotland,  of  reputable  parents ; 
at  eight  years  of  age,  being  a  sturdy  boy,  1  was  taken 
notice  of  by  two  fellows  belonging  to  a  vessel,  employed 
(as  the  trade  then  was)  by  some  of  the  worthy  merchants 
of  Aberdeen,  in  that  villainous  and  execrable  i)ractice, 
of  stealing  young  children  from  their  parents,  and  sell- 
ing them  as  slaves  in  the  plantations  abroad,  and  on 
board  the  ship  easily  cajoled  by  them,  where  I  was 
conducted  between  decks,  to  some  others  they  had  kid- 
napped in  the  same  manner,  and  in  about  a  month's 
time  set  sail  for  America.  When  arrived  at  Philadel- 
phia, the  captain  sold  us  at  about  sixteen  ])ounds  per 
head.  What  became  of  my  unhappy  comi)anion8  I 
never  knew ;  but  it  was  my  lot  to  be  sold  for  seven 
years,  to  one  of  my  countrymen,  who  had  in  his  youth 
been  kidnapped  like  myself,  but  from  another  town. 

Having  no  children  of  his  own,  iuid  commiserating 
ray  condition  ^e  took  care  of  me,  indulged  me  in  going 
to  school,  where  1  went  every  winter  for  live  years,  and 
made  a  tolerable  i>rotieiency.  With  this  good  master,  I 
coniniued  till  he  died,  and,  as  a  reward  lor  my  faithful 
service,  h^  left  me  two  hundred  pounds  currency,  which 
was  then  a»K)Ut  an  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  sterling, 
his  best  horse,  saddle,  and  nil  his  wearing  apparel. 

Being  now  seventeen  year^  old,  and  my  own  master, 
having  money  in  my  pocket,  and  all  other  necessaries, 
I  employed  myself  in  jobbing  for  near  seven  years: 
when  I  resolved  to  settle,  and  married  the  daughter  of  a 
substantird  i)lanter.     My  father-in-law  made  me  a  deed 


(75  ) 

of  gift  of  a  tract  of  land  that  lay  (unhappily  for  me,  as 
it  has  since  proved)  on  the  frontiers  of  the  province  of 
Pennsylvania,  near  the  forks  of  Delaware,  containing 
about  two  hundred  acres,  thirty  of  which  were  well 
cleared  and  fit  for  immediate  use,  on  which  were  a  good 
house  and  barn.  The  place  i)leasing  me  well,  I  settled 
on  it.  My  money  I  expended  in  buying  stock,  house- 
hold furniture,  and  implements  for  out-of-door  work; 
and  being  happy  in  a  good  wife,  my  felicity  was  com- 
pleat;  but  in  1754,  the  Indians,  who  had  for  a  long  time 
before  ravaged  and  destroyed  other  parts  of  America 
unmolested,  began  now  to  be  very  troublesome  on  the 
frontiers  of  our  province,  where  they  generally  appeared 
in  small  skulking  parties,  committing  great  devastations. 
Terrible  and  shocking  to  human  nature  were  the  bar- 
barities daily  committed  by  these  savages!  Scarce  did 
a  day  pass  but  some  unhappy  family  or  other  fell  vic- 
tims to  savage  cruelty.  Terrible,  indeed,  it  proved  to 
me,  as  well  as  to  many  others;  I  that  was  now  happy 
in  an  easy  state  of  life,  blessed  with  an  affectionate  and 
tender  wife,  became  suddenly  one  of  the  most  unhappy 
of  mankind :  scarce  can  I  sustain  the  shock  which  for 
ever  recurs  on  recollecting  the  fatal  second  of  October, 
1754.  My  wife  that  day  went  from  home,  to  visit  some 
of  her  relations;  as  I  staid  up  later  than  usual,  expect- 
ing her  return,  none  being  in  the  house  besides  myself, 
how  great  was  my  surprize  and  terror,  when,  about 
eleven  o'clock  at  night,  I  heard  the  dismal  war-whoop 
of  the  savages,  and  found  that  my  house  was  beset  by 
them.  I  flew  to  my  chamber  window,  and  ])erceived 
them  to  be  twelve  in  num1)er.  Having  my  gun  loaded, 
i  threatened  them  with  dcatli,  if  th«y  did  not  retire. 
But  how  vain  and  fruitless  are  the  efforts  of  one   man 


(  7B  ) 


i| 


) 


1 


^1? 


against  the  united  force  of  so  many  blood-thirsty  mon- 
sters! one  of  them  that  could  speak  English,  threatened 
me  in  return,  "That  if  I  did  not  come  out  thev  would 
burn  me  alive,"  adding,  however,  ''That  if  I  would  come 
out  and  surrender  myself  prisoner,  they  would  not  kill 
me."  In  such  deplorable  circumstances,  I  chose  to  rely 
on  their  promises,  rather  than  meet  death  by  rejecting 
them  J  and  accordingly  went  out  of  the  house,  with  my 
gun  in  my  hand,  not  knowing  that  I  had  it.  Imme- 
diately on  my  approach,  they  rushed  on  me  like  tigers, 
and  instantly  disarmed  me.  H:iving  me  thus  in  their 
power,  they  bound  me  to  a  tree,  went  into  the  house, 
plundered  it  of  every  thing  they  could  carry  off,  and 
then  set  fire  to  it,  and  consumed  wliat  was  left  before  my 
eyes.  Not  satisfied  with  this,  they  set  fire  to  my  barn, 
stable,  and  out  houses,  wherein  were  about  200  bushels 
of  wheat,  six  cows,  four  horses,  and  five  sheep,  all  which 
were  consumed  to  ashes. 

Having  thus  finished  the  execrable  business,  about 
whicli  ihey  came,  one  of  the  monsters  came  to  me  with 
a  tomahawk*  and  threatened  me  with  the  wort-tof  deaths, 
if  I  would  not  go  with  them.  This  I  agreed  to,  and  then 
they  untied  me,  and  gave  me  a  load  to  carry,  under  which 
I  travelled  all  that  night,  full  of  the  most  terrible  appre- 
hensions, lest  my  unhappy  wife  should  likewise  have 
fallen  into  their  cruel  power.  At  day  break,  my  infernal 
masters  ordered  me  to  lay  down  my  load,  when,  tying 
my  hands  again  round  a  tree,  they  forced  the  blood  out 


*  A  tomahawk  is  a  kind   of  hatchet,    made  something  like  our 
plasterer's  hammers,  about  two   feet  long,  handle  and  all.     They 
generally  use  it  after  firing  their  guns,  by  rushing  on  their  enemies, 
and  fracturing  or  cleaving  their  sculls  with  it,  and  very  seldom  fail  of 
killing  at  the  lirst  blow. 


(  77  ) 


at  my  fingers'  ends.  And  then  seeing  them  kindling  a 
fire  near  the  tree  to  which  I  was  bound,  the  most  dread- 
ful agonies  seized  me,  concluding  I  was  going  to  be 
made  a  sacrifice  to  their  barbarity.  The  fire  being  made, 
they  for  some  time  danced  round  me,  after  their  manner, 
whooping,  hallooing  and  shrieking  in  a  frightful  manner. 
Being  satisfied  with  this  sort  of  mirth,  they  proceeded 
in  another  mannei ,  taking  the  burning  coals,  and  sticks 
flaming  with  fire  at  the  ends,  holding  them  to  my  face, 
head,  hands,  and  feet,  and  at  the  same  time  threatening 
to  burn  me  entirely  if  I  cried  out;  thus  tortured  as  1  was 
almost  to  death,  I  suffered  their  brutalities,  without  being 
allowed  to  vent  my  anp  'sh  otherwise,  than  by  shedding 
silent  tears;  and  these  being  observed,  they  took  fresh 
coals,  and  ii])plyed  them  near  my  eyes,  telling  me  my 
face  was  wet,  and  that  they  would  dry  it  for  me,  wliich 
indeed  they  cruelly  did.  How  I  underwent  these  tor- 
tures has  been  matter  of  wonder  to  me,  but  God  enabled 
me  to  wait  with  more  than  common  patience  for  the  de- 
liverance I  daily  prayed  for. 

At  length  they  sat  down  round  the  fire,  and  roasted 
the  meat,  of  which  they  had  robbed  my  dwelling.  When 
they  had  supped,  they  offered  some  to  me :  though  it 
may  easily  be  imagined  I  had  but  little  appetite  to  eat, 
after  the  tortures  and  miseries  I  had  suffered,  yet  was  I 
forced  to  seem  pleased  with  what  they  offVired  me,  lest 
by  refusing  it,  they  should  resume  their  hellish  prac- 
tices. What  1  could  not  eat,  I  contrived  to  hide,  they 
having  unbound  me  till  they  imagined  I  had  entail- 
but  then  they  bound  me  as  before,  in  which  deplorable 
condition  I  was  forced  to  continue  the  whole  day.  When 
the  sun  was  set,  they  put  out  the  fire,  and  covered  the 
ashes  with  leaves,  as  is  their  usual  custom,  that  the  white 


( 


i 


(78  ) 

people  might  not  discover  any  traces  of  their  having  been 
there. 

Going  from  thence  along  the  Susquehanna,  for  the 
space  of  six  miles,  loaded  as  I  was  before,  we  arrived  at 
a  spot  near  the  Ap:ilachian  mountains,  or  Blue-hills, 
where  they  liid  their  plunder  under  logs  of  wood.  From 
thence  they  proceeded  to  a  neighbouring  house,  occupied 
by  one  Jacob  Snider  and  his  unhappy  family,  consisting 
of  his  wife,  five  children,  and  a  young  man,  his  servant. 
They  soon  got  admittance  into  the  unfortunate  man's 
house,  where  they  immediately,  without  the  least  re- 
morse, scalped  both  parents  and  children:  nor  could  the 
tears,  the  shrieks,  or  cries  of  poor  innocent  children,  pre- 
vent their  horrid  massacre:  having  thus  scalped  them, 
and  plundered  the  house  of  every  thing  that  was  move- 
able, they  set  fire  to  it,  and  left  the  distressed  victims 
amidst  the  flames. 

Thinking  the  young  man  belonging  to  this  unhappy 
family,  would  be  of  service  to  them  in  carrying  j)art  of 
their  plunder,  they  spared  his  life,  and  loaded  him  and 
myself  with  what  they  had  here  got,  and  again  marched 
to  the  Blue-hills,  where  they  stowed  their  goods  as  be- 
fore. My  fellow  suti'erer  could  not  support  the  cruel 
treatment  which  we  were  obliged  to  endure,  and  com- 
plaining bitterly  to  me  of  his  being  unable  to  proceed 
any  farther,  I  endeavoured  to  animate  him,  but  all  in 
vain,  for  he  still  continued  his  moans  and  tears,  which 
one  of  the  savages  perceiving,  as  he  travelled  along, 
came  up  to  us,  and  with  his  tomahawk  gave  him  a  blow 
on  the  head,  which  felled  the  unhappy  youth  to  the 
ground,  whom  they  immediately  scalped  and  left.  The 
suddenness  of  this  murder  shocked  me  to  that  degree, 
that  I  was  in  a  manner  motionless,  expecting  my  fate 


:■* 


(70) 

would  soon  be  the  same:  however,  recovering  my  dis- 
tracted thoughts,  I  dissembled  my  anguish  a.s  well  as  I 
could  from  the  barbarians;  but  still,  such  was  my  terror, 
that  for  some  time  I  scarce  knew  the  days  of  the  week, 
or  what  I  did. 

They  still  kept  on  their  course  near  the  mountains, 
where  they  lay  skulking  four  or  five  days,  rejoicing  at 
the  plunder  they  had  got.  When  provisions  became 
scarce,  they  made  their  way  towards  Susquehanna,  and 
passing  near  another  house,  inhabited  by  an  old  man, 
whose  name  was  John  Adams,  with  his  wife  and  four 
small  children,  and  meeting  with  no  resistance,  they  im- 
mediately scalped  the  mother  and  her  children  before 
the  old  man's  eyes.  Inhumnn  and  horrid  as  this  was, 
it  did  not  satisfy  them ;  for  when  they  had  murdered  the 
poor  woman,  they  acted  with  her  in  such  a  brutal  man- 
ner, as  decency  will  not  permit  me  to  mention.  The 
unhappy  husband,  not  being  able  to  avoid  the  sight,  en- 
treated them  to  put  an  end  to  his  miserable  being;  but 
they  were  as  deaf  to  the  tears  and  entreaties  of  this  ven- 
erable sufferer,  as  they  had  been  to  those  of  the  others, 
and  proceeded  to  burn  and  destroy  his  house,  barn, 
corn,  hay,  cattle,  and  every  thing  the  poor  man,  a  few 
hours  before,  was  master  of.  Having  saved  what  they 
thought  proper  from  the  flames,  they  gave  the  old  man, 
feeble,  weak,  and  in  the  miserable  condition  he  then  was, 
as  well  as  myself,  burdens  to  carry,  and  loading  them- 
selves likewise  with  bread  and  meat,  pursued  their  jour- 
ney towards  the  Great  Swamp.  Here  they  lay  for  eight 
or  nine  days,  diverting  themselves,  at  times,  in  barbar- 
ous cruelties  on  the  old  man :  sometimes  they  would 
strip  him  naked,  and  paint  him  all  over  with  various 
sorts  of  colours :  at  other  times  they  would  pluck  the  white 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14.S80 

(716)  872-4503 


,  i 

'1 


T 


(.80) 

hairs  from  his  head,  and  tauntingly  tell  him,  "  He  was 
a  fool  for  living  so  long,  and  that  they  should  shew  him 
kindness  in  putting  him  out  of  the  world."  In  vain  were 
all  his  tears,  for  daily  did  they  tire  themselves  with  the 
various  means  they  tried  to  torment  him;  sometimes 
tying  him  to  a  tree,  and  whipping  him ;  at  other  times, 
scorching  his  furrowed  cheeks  with  red-hot  coals,  and 
burning  his  legs  quite  to  the  knees.  One  night  after  he 
had  been  thus  tormented,  whilst  he  and  I  were  condol- 
ing each  other  at  the  miseries  we  daily  suffered,  25  other 
Indians  arrived,  bringing  with  them  20  scalps  and  3 
prisoners,  who  had  unhappily  fallen  into  their  hands  in 
Conogocheague,  a  small  town  near  the  river  Susquehanna, 
chiefly  inhabited  by  the  Irish.  These  prisoners  gave  us 
some  shocking  accounts  of  the  murders  and  the  devas- 
tations committed  in  their  parts;  a  few  instances  of  which 
will  enable  the  reader  to  guess  at  the  treatment  the  pro- 
vincials have  suffered  for  years  past.  This  party,  who  now 
joined  us,  had  it  not,  I  found,  in  their  power  to  begin  their 
violences  so  soon  as  those  who  visited  my  habitation ;  the 
first  of  their  tragedies  being  on  the  25th  of  October,  1754, 
when  John  Lewis,  with  his  wife  and  three  small  children, 
were  inhumanly  scalped  and  murdered;  and  his  house, 
barn,  and  every  thing  he  possessed,  burnt  and  destroyed. 
On  the  28th,  Jacob  Miller,  with  his  wife  and  six  of  his 
family,  with  every  thing  on  his  plantations,  shared  the 
same  fate.  The  30th,  the  house,  mill,  barn,  twenty  head 
of  cattle,  two  teams  of  horses,  and  every  thing  belonging 
to  George  Folke,  met  with  the  like  treatment,  himself, 
wife,  and  all  his  miserable  family,  consisting  of  nine  in 
number,  being  scalped,  then  cut  in  pieces  and  given  to 
the  swine.  One  of  the  substantial  traders,  belonging  to 
the  province,  having  business  that  called  him  some 


(    81    ) 

miles  up  the  country,  fell  into  the  hands  of  these  ruf- 
fians, who  not  only  scalped  him,  but  immediately  roasted 
him  before  he  was  dead  ;  then,  like  cannibals,  for  want 
of  other  food,  eat  his  whole  body,  and  of  his  head  made 
what  they  calh^d  an  Indian  pudding. 

From  these  few  instances  of  savage  cruelty,  the  de- 
plorable situation  of  the  defenceless  inhabitants,  and 
what  they  hourly  suffered  in  that  part  of  the  globe, 
must  strike  the  utmost  horror,  and  cause  in  every  breast 
the  utmost  detestation,  not  only  against  the  authors, 
but  against  those  who,  through  inattention,  or  pusilla- 
nimous or  erroneous  principles,  suffered  these  savages 
at  first,  unrepelled,  or  even  unmolested,  to  commit  such 
outrages,  depredations,  and  murders. 

The  three  prisoners  that  were  brought  witli  these 
additional  forces,  constantly  repining  at  their  lot,  and 
almost  dead  with  their  excessively  hard  treatment,  con- 
trived at  last  to  make  their  escape ;  but  being  far  from 
their  own  settlements,  and  not  knowing  the  country 
were  soon  after  met  by  some  others  of  the  tribes,  or 
nations  at  war  with  us,  and  brought  back.  The  poor 
creatures,  almost  fumisbed  for  want  of  sustenance,  hav- 
ing had  none  during  the  time  of  their  escape,  were  no 
sooner  in  the  j)ower  of  the  barbarians,  than  two  of  them 
were  tied  to  a  tree,  and  a  great  fire  made  round  them, 
where  they  remained  till  they  were  terribly  scorched 
and  burnt;  when  one  of  the  villains  with  his  scalping 
knife  ripped  open  tlieir  bellies,  took  out  their  entrails, 
and  burned  them  before  their  eyes,  whilst  the  others 
were  cutting,  piercing,  and  tearing  the  fle^h  from  their 
breasts,  hands,  arms  and  legs,  with  red  hot  irons,  till 
they  were  dead.  The  thinl  unhappy  victim  was  re- 
served a  few  hours  longer,  to  be,  if  possible,  sacrificed 


(82) 


in  a  more  cruel  manner:  his  arms  weift  lied  close  to  his 
body,  and  a  hole  being  dug,  deep  enough  for  him  to 
stand  upright,  he  was  put  into  it,  and  earth  rammed 
and  beat  in  all  round  his  body,  up  to  his  neck,  so  that 
his  head  only  appeared  above  ground;  they  then 
scalped  him,  and  there  let  him  remain  for  three  or  four 
hours,  in  the  greatest  agonies;  after  which  they  made  a 
small  fire  near  his  head,  causing  him  to  suffer  the  most 
excruciating  torments;  whilst  the  poor  creature  could 
only  cry  for  mercy,  by  killing  him  immediately,  for  his 
brains  were  boiling  in  his  head, — inexorable  to  all  he 
said,  they  continued  the  fire,  till  his  eyes  gushed  out  of 
their  sockets ;  such  agonizing  torments  did  this  unhappy 
creature  suffer  for  near  two  hours  before  he  was  quite 
dead.  They  cut  off  his  head,  and  buried  it  with  the 
other  bodies;  my  task  being  to  dig  the  graves,  which, 
feeble  and  terrified  as  I  was,  the  dread  of  suffering 
the  same  fate  enabled  me  to  do. 

A  great  snow  now  falling,  the  barbarians  were  fearful, 
lest  the  white  people  should,  by  their  tracks,  find  out 
their  skulking  retreats,  which  obliged  them  to  make  the 
best  of  their  way  to  their  winter  quarters,  about  two 
hundred  miles  farther  from  any  plantations  or  inhabit- 
ants. After  a  long  and  painful  journey,  being  almost 
starved,  I  arrived  with  this  infernal  crew  at  Alamingo. 
There  I  found  a  number  of  wigwams,  full  of  their 
women  and  children.  Dancing,  singing,  and  shouting 
were  their  general  amusements.  And  in  all  their  festi- 
vals and  dunces,  they  relate  what  successes  they  have 
had,  and  what  damages  they  have  sustained  in  their 
expeditions;  in  which  I  now  unhappily  became  part  of 
their  theme.  The  severity  of  the  cold  increasing,  they 
etripped  me  of  my  clothes  for  their  own  use,  and  gave 


(83) 


I 


me  such  as  they  usually  wore  themselves,  being  a  piece 
of  blanket,  and  a  pair  of  mockasons,  or  shoes,  with 
a  yard  of  coarse  cloth,  to  put  round  me  instead  of 
breeches. 

At  Alamingo  I  remained  near  two  months,  till  the 
snow  was  off'  the  ground.  Whatever  thoughts  I  might 
have  had  of  making  my  escape,  to  carry  them  into  exe- 
cution was  impracticable,  being  so  far  from  any  planta- 
tions or  white  people,  and  the  severe  weather  rendering 
my  limbs  in  a  manner  quite  stiff'  and  motionless ;  how- 
ever, I  contrived  to  defend  myself  against  the  inclem- 
ency of  the  weather  as  well  as  I  could,  by  making  my- 
self a  little  wigwam  with  the  bark  of  the  trees,  covering 
it  with  earth,  which  made  it  resemble  a  cave;  and,  to 
prevent  tlie  ill  eff*ect8  of  the  cold,  I  kept  a  good  fire 
always  near  the  door.  My  liberty  of  going  about,  was, 
indeed,  more  than  I  could  have  expected,  but  they  well 
knew  the  impracticability  of  my  escaping  from  them. 
Seeing  mc  outwardly  easy  and  submissive,  they  would 
sometimes  give  me  a  little  meat,  but  my  chief  food  was 
Indian  corn.  At  length  the  time  came  when  they  were 
preparing  themselves  for  another  expedition  against  the 
planters  and  white  i)eople:  but  before  they  set  out,  they 
were  joined  by  many  other  Indians. 

As  ifoon  as  the  snow  was  (juite  gone,  they  set  forth  on 
their  journey  towards  the  back  parts  of  the  province  ot 
Pennsylvania;  all  leaving  their  wives  and  children 
behind  in  their  wigwams.  They  were  now  a  formidable 
body,  amounting  to  near  150.  My  business  was  to 
carry  what  they  thought  proper  to  load  me  with,  but 
they  never  intrusted  me  with  a  gun.  We  marched  on 
several  days  without  any  thing  particular  occurring, 
almost  famished  for  want  of  provisions ;  for  my  part,  I 


(84) 


•   ; 


I!, 


¥\ 


had  nothing  but  a  few  ears  of  Indian  com,  which  I  was 
glad  to  eat  dry;  nor  did  the  Indians  themselves  fare 
much  better,  but  as  they  drew  near  the  plantations, 
they  were  afraid  to  kill  any  game,  lest  the  noise  of  their 
guns  should  alarm  the  inhabitants. 

When  we  again  arrived  at  the  Blue  hills,  about  thirty 
miles  from  the  Irish  settlements  before-mentioned,  we 
encamped  for  three  days,  though  God  knows,  we  had 
neither  tents  nor  anything  else  to  defend  us  from  the 
inclemency  of  the  air,  having  nothing  to  lie  on  by  night 
but  the  grass.  Their  usual  method  of  lodging,  pitch- 
ing, or  encamping,  by  night,  being  in  parcels  of  ten  or 
twelve  men  to  a  fire,  where  they  lie  upon  the  grass  or 
brush,  wrapped  up  in  a  blanket,  with  their  feet  to  the 
fire. 

During  our  stay  here,  a  sort  of  council  of  war  was 
held,  when  it  was  agreed  to  divide  themselves  into  com- 
panies of  about  twenty  men  each ;  after  which  every 
captain  marched  with  his  party  where  he  thought 
proper.  I  still  belonged  to  my  old  masters,  but  was 
left  behind  on  the  mountains  with  ten  Indians,  to  stay 
till  the  rest  should  return ;  not  thinking  it  proper  to 
carry  me  nearer  to  Conogocheague,  or  the  other  planta- 
tions. 

Here  I  began  to  meditate  an  escape,  and  though  I 
knew  the  country  around  very  well,  yet  I  was  very 
cautious  of  giving  the  least  suspicion  of  any  such  inten- 
tion. However,  the  third  day  after  the  grand  body  left 
us,  my  companions  thought  proper  to  traverse  the 
mountains  in  search  of  game  for  their  subsistence,  leav- 
ing me  bound  in  such  a  manner  that  I  cuuld  not  escape: 
at  night,  when  they  returned,  having  unbound  me,  we 
all  sat  down  together  to  supper  on   what  they   had 


(85) 

killed,  and  soon  after  (being  greatly  fatigued  with  their 
day's  excursion)  they  composed  themselves  to  rest,  as 
usual.  I  now  tried  various  ways  to  try  whether  it  was 
a  scheme  to  prove  my  intentions  or  not ;  but  after  mak- 
ing a  noise  and  walking  about,  sometimes  touching 
them  with  my  feet,  I  found  there  was  no  fallacy.  Then 
I  resolved,  if  possible,  to  get  one  of  their  guns,  and,  if 
discovered,  to  die  in  my  defence,  rather  than  be  taken : 
for  that  purpose  I  made  various  efforts  to  get  one  from 
under  their  heads,  (where  they  always  secured  them,) 
but  in  vain.  Disappointed  in  this,  I  began  to  despair  of 
carrying  my  design  into  execution:  yet,  after  a  little 
recollection,  nnd  trusting  myself  to  the  Divine  protec- 
tion, I  set  forwards,  naked  and  defenceless  as  I  was. 
Such  was  my  terror,  however,  that  in  going  from  them 
I  halted,  and  paused  every  four  or  five  yards,  looking 
fearfully  towards  the  spot  where  I  had  left  them,  lest 
they  phould  awake  and  miss  me ;  but  when  I  was  two 
hundred  yards  from  them,  I  mended  my  pace,  and 
made  as  much  haete  as  I  possibly  could  to  the  foot  of 
the  mountains;  when,  on  a  sudden,  I  was  struck  with 
the  greatest  terror  on  hearing  the  wood-cry,  as  it  is 
called,  which  the  savages  I  had  left  were  making,  upon 
missing  their  charge.  The  more  my  terror  encreased, 
the  faster  I  pushed  on,  and,  scarce  knowing  where  I 
trod,  drove  through  the  woods  with  the  utmost  precipita- 
tion, sometimes  falling  and  bruising  myself,  cutting  my 
feet  and  legs  against  the  stones  in  a  miserable  manner. 
But  faint  and  maimed  as  I  wa3,  I  continued  my  flight 
till  day-break,  when,  without  having  any  thing  to  sus- 
tain nature,  but  a  little  corn  left,  I  crept  into  a  hollow 
tree,  where  I  lay  very  snug,  and  returned  my  prayers 
and  thanks  to  the  Divine  Being,  that  had  thus  far  fav- 


n  I 


ii, 


r 


(  86) 

oured  my  escape.  But  my  repose  was  in  a  few  hours 
destroyed  at  hearing  the  voices  of  the  savages  near  the 
place  where  I  was  hid,  threatening  and  talking  how 
they  would  use  me,  if  they  got  me  again.  However,  they 
at  last  left  the  spot,  where  I  heard  them,  and  I  remained 
in  my  apartment  all  that  day  without  further  moles- 
tation. 

At  night  I  ventured  forwards  again,  frightened,  think- 
ing each  twig  that  touched  me  a  savage.  The  third  day 
I  concealed  myself  in  like  manner  as  before,  and  at 
night  travelled,  keeping  off  the  main  road  as  much  as 
possible,  which  lengthened  my  journey  many  miles. 
But  how  shall  I  describe  the  terror  I  felt  on  the  fourth 
night,  when  by  the  rustling  I  made  among  the  leaves,  a 
party  of  Indians,  that  lay  round  a  small  fire,  which  I 
did  not  perceive,  started  from  the  ground,  and,  seizing 
their  arms,  ran  from  the  fire  amongst  the  woods. 
Whether  to  move  forward  or  rest  where  I  was  I  knew 
not,  when  to  my  great  surprise  and  joy,  I  was  relieved 
by  a  parcel  of  swine  that  made  towards  the  place  where 
I  guessed  the  savages  to  be ;  who,  on  seeing  them, 
imagined  that  they  had  caused  the  alarm,  very  merrily 
returned  to  the  fire,  and  lay  again  down  to  sleep. 
Bruised,  crippled  and  terrified  as  I  was,  I  pursued  my 
journey  till  break  of  day,  when,  thinking  myself  safe,  I 
lay  down  under  a  great  log,  and  slept  till  about  noon. 
Before  evening,  I  reached  the  summit  of  a  great  hill,  and 
looking  out  if  I  could  spy  any  habitations  of  white 
people,  to  my  inexpressible  joy,  I  saw  some  which  I 
guessed  to  be  about  ten  miles  distant. 

In  the  morning  I  continued  my  journey  towards  the 
nearest  cleared  lands  I  had  seen  the  day  before,  and 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  arrived  at  the  house 


;  t 


I 


(87  ) 

of  John  Bell,  an  old  acquaintance,  where  knocking  at 
the  door,  his  wife,  who  opened  it,  seeing  me  in  such  a 
frightful  condition,  flew  from  me,  screaming,  into  the 
house.  This  alarmed  the  whole  family,  who  immediately 
fled  to  th(  ir  arms,  and  I  was  Eoon  acci^sted  by  the  master 
with  his  gun  in  his  hand.  But  on  making  myself  known, 
(for  he  before  took  me  to  be  an  Indian,)  he  immediately 
caressed  me,  as  did  all  his  family,  with  extraordinary 
friendship,  the  report  of  my  being  murdered  by  the 
savages  having  reached  them  some  months  before.  For 
two  days  and  nights  they  very  aflectionutely  su})plied 
me  with  all  necessaries,  and  carefully  attended  me  till 
my  spirits  and  limbs  were  pretty  well  recovered,  and  I 
thought  myself  able  to  ride,  when  I  borrowed  of  these 
good  people  (whose  kindness  merits  ray  most  grateful 
returns)  a  horse  and  some  clothes,  and  set  forward  for 
my  father-in-law's  house  in  Chester  county,  about  one 
hundred  and  forty  miles  thence,  where  I  arrived  on  the 
4th  day  of  January,  1755,  (but  scarce  one  of  the  family 
could  credit  their  eyes,  believing  with  the  ])eo}»le  I  had 
lately  left,  that  I  had  fallen  a  [)rey  to  the  Indians,)  where 
I  was  received  and  embraced  by  the  whole  family  with 
great  affection;  upon  enquiring  for  my  dear  wife,  I  found 
she  had  been  dead  two  months !  This  fatal  news  greatly 
lessened  the  joy  I  otherwise  should  have  felt  at  my  de- 
liverance from  the  dreadful  state  and  company  I  had 
been  in. 


e 


(  88  ) 


■''>  i 


i.s 


Remarkable  Adventures  of  Jackson  Johonnet,  a  Soldier 
under  General  Harmar  and  General  St.  Clair,  Contain- 
ing an  Account  of  his  Captivity,  Sufferings y  and  Escape 
from  the  Kickappoo  Indians. 

THERE  is  seldom  a  more  difficult  task  undertaken 
by  man,  than  the  act  of  writing  a  narrative  of  a 
person's  own  life ;  especially  where  the  incidents  border 
on  the  marvellous.  Prodigies  but  seldom  happen ;  and 
the  veracity  of  the  relaters  of  them  is  still  less  frequently 
vouched  for;  however,  as  the  dispensations  of  Provi- 
dence towards  me  have  been  too  striking  not  to  make  a 
deep  and  grateful  impression,  and  as  the  principal  part 
of  them  can  be  attested  to  by  living  evidences,  I  shall 
proceed,  being  confident  that  the  candid  reader  will  par- 
don the  inaccuracies  of  an  illiterate  soldier,  and  that  the 
tender-hearted  will  drop  the  tear  of  sympathy,  when 
they  realize  the  idea  of  the  sufferings  of  such  of  our 
unfortunate  country  folks  as  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
we.-tern  Indians,  whose  tender  mercies  are  cruelties. 

I  was  born  and  brought  up  at  Falmouth,  Casco-bay, 
where  I  resided  until  I  attained  to  the  seventeenth  year 
of  my  age.  My  parents  were  poor,  the  farm  we  occu- 
pied small,  and  hard  to  cultivate,  their  family  large  and 
expensive,  and  every  way  fitted  to  spare  me  to  seek  a 
separate  fortune ;  at  least  these  ideas  had  gained  so  great 
an  ascendancy  in  my  mind,  that  I  determined,  with  the 
consent  of  my  parents,  to  look  out  for  a  mean  of  sup- 
porting myself. 

Having  fixed  on  the  matter  firmly,  I  took  leave  of 
my  friends,  and  sailed,  the  Ist  of  May,  1791,  on  board  a 
coasting  schooner  for  Boston.    Having  arrived  in  this 


?<fcu:«.5'.  ■i.a',!g*'.'iei«i.  igig'j*?"'L^ 


(89) 

cipitol,  and  entirely  out  of  employ,  I  had  many  uneasy 
sensations,  and  more  than  once  sincerely  wished  myself 
at  home  with  my  pnrents;  however,  as  I  had  set  out 
on  an  important  design,  and  as  yet  met  with  no  mis- 
fortune, pride  kept  me  from  this  act,  while  necessity 
urged  me  to  fix  speedily  on  some  mode  of  obtaining  a 
livelihood. 

My  mind  was  severely  agitated  on  this  subject  one 
morning,  when  a  young  officer  came  into  my  room,  and 
soon  entered  into  conversation  on  the  pleasures  of  a 
military  life,  the  great  chance  there  was  for  an  active 
young  man  to  obtain  promotion,  and  the  grand  prospect 
opening  for  making  great  fortunes  in  the  western  coun- 
try. His  discourse  had  the  desired  effect ;  for,  after 
treating  me  with  a  bowl  or  two  of  punch,  I  enlisted,  with 
a  firm  promise  on  his  side  to  assist  me  in  obtaining  a 
sergeant's  warrant  before  the  party  left  Boston. 

An  entire  new  scene  now  opened  before  me.  Instead 
of  becoming  a  sergeant,  I  was  treated  severely  for  my 
ignorance  in  a  matter  I  had  till  then  scarcely  thought  of, 
and  insultingly  ridiculed  for  remonstrating  against  the 
conduct  of  the  officer.  I  suffered  great  uneasiness  on 
these  and  other  accounts,  of  a  similar  kind,  for  some 
time;  at  length,  convinced  of  the  futility  of  complaint, 
I  applied  myself  to  study  the  exercise,  and  in  a  few  days 
became  tolerable  expert.  The  beginning  of  July  we 
left  Boston,  and  proceeded  on  our  way  to  join  the  wes- 
tern army.  When  we  arrived  at  fort  Washington,  I 
was  ordered  to  join  capt.  Phelon's  company,  and  in  a 
few  days  set  out  on  the  expedition  under  general  Har- 
mar.  Those  alone  who  have  experienced,  can  tell  what 
hardships  men  undergo  in  such  excursions;  hunger, 
fatigue  and  toil  were  our  constant  attendants:  however, 


^^ 


r 


(  90) 

as  our  expectations  were  raised  with  the  idea  of  easy 
conquest,  rich  plunder,  and  fine  arms  in  the  end,  we 
made  a  shift  to  be  tolerably  merry  :  for  my  own  part,  I 
had  obtained  a  sergeancy,  and  flattered  myself  I  was  in 
the  direct  road  to  honour,  fume  and  fortune.     Alas !  how 
fluctuating  are  the  scenes  of  life! — how  singularly  pre- 
carious the  fortune  of  a  soldier!    Before  a  single  oppor- 
tunity presented  in  which  I  have  a  chance  to  signalize 
myself,  it  was  my  lot  to  be  taken  in  an  ambuscade,  by 
a  party  of  Kickappoo  Indians,  and  with  ten  others  con- 
strained to  experience  scenes,  in  comparison  with  which 
our  former  distresses  sunk  into  nothing.     We  were  taken 
on  the  bank  of  the  Wabash,  and  immediately  conveyed 
to  the  upper  Miami,  at  least  such  of  us  as  survived. 
The  second  day  after  we  were  taken,  one  of  my  com- 
panions, by  the  name  of  George  Aikins,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  became  so  faint  with  hunger  and  fatigue  that  he 
could  proceed  no  further.    A  short  council  was  imme- 
diately held  among  the  Indians  who  guarded  us,  the 
result  of  which  was  that  he  should  be  put  to  death;  this 
was  no  sooner  determined  on  than  a  scene  of  torture 
began.      The  captain   of   the   guard   approached  the 
wretched  victim,  who  lay  bound  upon  the  ground,  and 
with  his  knife  made  a  circular  incision  on  the  scull ;  two 
others  immediately  pulled  off  the  scalp  ;  after  this,  each 
of  them  struck  him  on  the  head  with  their  tomahawks  ; 
they  then  stripped  him  naked,  stabbed  him  with  their 
knives  in  every  sensitive  part  of  the  body,  and  left  him, 
w  eltering  in  blood,  though  not  quite  dead,  a  wretched 
victim  of  Indian  rage  and  hellish  barbarity. 

We  were  eight  days  on  our  march  to  the  upper  Miami, 
d  uring  which  painful  travel,  no  pen  can  describe  our 
sufterings  from  hunger,  thirst,  and  toil.     We  were  met, 


11, 


?t, 


(91  ) 

at  the  entrance  of  the  town,  by  above  five  hundred  In- 
dians, besides  squaws  and  children,  who  were  apprizt»d 
01  our  approach  by  a  most  hideous  yelling  made  by 
our  guard,  and  answered  repeatedly  from  the  village. 
Here  we  were  all  severely  beaten  by  the  Indians,  and 
four  of  our  number,  viz.  James  Durgee,  of  Concord, 
Samuel  Forsythe,  of  Beverly,  Robert  Deloy,  of  Marble- 
head,  and  IJzza  Benton,  of  Salem,  who  all  fainted  under 
their  heavy  trials,  were  immediately  scalped  and  toma- 
hawked in  our  presence,  and  tortured  to  death,  with 
every  affliction  of  misery  that  Indian  ingenuity  could 
invent. 

It  was  the  4th  of  August  when  we  were  taken,  and 
our  unhappy  companions  were  massacred  the  thirteenth. 
News  was  that  day  received  of  the  destruction  at  L'An" 
guille,  &c.  of  general  Harmar's  army,  numbers  of  scalps 
were  exhibited  by  the  warriors,  and  several  prisoners, 
among  whom  were  three  women  and  six  children,  car- 
ried through  the  village,  destined  to  a  Kickappoo  settle- 
ment, further  westward.  The  15th  of  August,  four  more 
of  my  fellow  prisoners,  viz.  Lemuel  Saunders,  of  Boston, 
Thomas  Tharp,  of  Dorchester,  Vincent  Upham,  of  Mis- 
tick,  and  Younglove  Croxal,  of  Abington,  were  taken 
from  us;  but  whether  they  were  massacred  or  preserved 
alive,  I  am  unable  to  say.  After  this,  nothing  material 
occured  for  a  fortnight,  except  that  we  were  several  times 
severely  whipped  on  the  receipt  of  bad  news,  and  our 
allowance  of  provisions  lessened,  so  that  we  were  appre- 
hensive of  starving  to  death,  if  we  did  not  fall  an  im- 
mediate sacrifice  to  the  fire  or  tomahawk:  but  heaven 
had  otherwise  decreed. 

On  the  night  following  the  J:iOth  of  August,  our  guard, 
which  consisted  of  four  Indians,  tired  out  with  watching. 


h' 


;;;• 


(  92  ) 

laid  down  to  sleep,  leaving  only  an  old  squaw  to  attend 
us.  Providence  so  ordered  that  my  companion  had,  by 
some  means,  got  one  of  his  hands  at  liberty,  and  having 
a  knife  in  his  pocket,  soon  cut  the  withes  that  bound 
his  feet,  and  that  which  pinioned  my  arms,  unperceived 
by  the  old  squaw,  who  sat  in  a  drowsy  position,  not  sus- 
pecting harm,  over  a  small  fire  in  the  wigwam. 

I  ruminated  but  a  f^w  moments  on  our  situation ; 
there  was  no  weapon  near  us,  except  my  companion's 
knife,  which  he  still  held;  I  looked  on  him  to  make  him 
observe  me,  and  the  same  instant  sprung  and  grasped 
the  squaw  by  the  throat  to  prevent  her  making  a  noise, 
and  my  comrade  in  a  moment  cut  her  throat  from  ear 
to  ear,  down  to  the  neck  bone.  He  then  seized  a  toma- 
hawk and  myself  a  rifle,  and  striking  at  the  same  instant, 
dispatched  two  of  our  enemies,  the  sound  of  these  blows 
awakened  the  others,  but  before  they  had  time  to  rise, 
we  renewed  our  strokes  on  them,  and  luckily  to  so  good 
eflFect,  as  to  stun  them,  and  then  repeating  the  blow,  we 
sunk  a  tomahawk  in  each  of  their  heads,  armed  ourselves 
completely,  and  taking  what  provisions  the  wigwam 
afforded,  we  committed  ourselves  to  the  protection  of 
Providence,  and  made  the  be?t  of  our  way  into  the 
wilderness. 

The  compass  of  a  volume  would  scarce  contain  the 
events  of  our  progress  through  the  wilderness;  but  as 
they  were  uninteresting  to  any  but  ourselves,  I  shall  only 
observe  generally,  that  the  difliculties  of  the  journey 
were  too  great  to  have  been  endured  by  any  who  had 
less  interest  than  life  at  stake,  or  a  less  terrible  enemy 
than  Indians  to  fear.  Hunger,  thirst,  and  fatigue,  were 
our  constant  companions.  We  travelled  hard,  day  and 
night,  except  the  few  hours  absolutely  requisite  for  repose? 


(93) 


he 
as 

jy 

id 

fy 

re 
Id 


that  nature  might  not  sink  under  her  oppression,  at 

which  period  one  constantly  watched  while  the  other 

slept.     In  this  tirfsome  mode,  we  proceeded  until  the 

fifteenth  of  September,  having  often  to  shift  our  direction 

onaccountof  impassible  bogs,  deep morapses, and  hideous 

precipices,  without  meeting  any  adventure  worthy  of 

note.    On  the  morning   of  the   fifteenth,  as   we  were 

steering  nearly  a  north  course,  in  order  to  avoid  a  bog 

that  intercepted  our  course,  S.  E.,  we  found  the  bodies 

of  an  old  man,  a  woman  and  two  children  newlv  mur- 

dered,  stript  and  scalped.     This  horrid  spectacle  chilled 

our  blood;  we  viewed  the  wretched  victims;  and  from 

what  we  could  collect  from  circumstances,  we  concluded 

that  they  had  been  dragged  away  from  their  homes,  and 

their  feet  being  worn  out,  had  been  inhumanly  murdered, 

and  left  weltering  in  their  blood.     We  were  at  a  great 

loss  now  to  determine  what  course  to  steer;  at  length  we 

pitched  upon  a  direction  about  north-west,  and  walked 

on  as  fast  as  possible  to  escape  the  savages,  if  practicable. 

About  noon  this  day,  we  came  to  a  good  spring,  which 

was  a  great  relief  to  us;  but  which  we  had  great  reason 

a  few  minutes  after  to  believe  would  be  the  last  of  our 

earthly  comforts.     My  companion,  Kichard  Sackville,  a 

corporal  of  captain  Newman's  company,  stcf)j)ed  aside 

into  the  thicket,  on  some  occasion,  and  returned  with 

the  account  that  a  few  rods  distant  he  had  discovered 

four  Indians  with  two  miseftible  wretches  bound,  sitting 

under  a  tree,  eating;  and  th:it  if  I  would  join  him,  he 

would  either  relieve  the  captives,  or  perish  in  the  attempt. 

The  resolution  of  my  worthy  comrade  pleased  me  greatly ; 

and  as  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  we  set  immediately  about 

the  execution  of  our  design  :  Sackville  took  the  lead, 

and  conducted  me  undiscovered,  within  fifty  yards  of 


.1 


mm 


(94) 

the  Indians ;  two  of  them  were  laid  down,  with  their 
musquets  in  their  arms,  and  appeared  to  be  asleep;  the 
other  two  sat  at  the  head  of  the  prisoners,  their  musquets 
resting  against  their  left  shoulders,  and  in  their  right 
hands  each  of  them  a  tomahawk,  over  the  heads  of  their 
prisoners.  We  each  chose  our  man  to  fire  at,  and  taking 
aim  deliberately,  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  them  both 
fall ;  the  others  instantly  started,  and  seeming  at  a  loss 
to  determine  from  whence  the  assault  was  made,  fell  on 
their  bellies,  and  looked  carefully  around  to  discover  the 
best  course  to  take;  mean  time  we  had  recharged,  and 
shifting  our  position  a  little,  impatiently  waiting  their 
rising;  in  a  minute  they  raised  on  their  hands  and 
knees,  and  having,  as  we  supposed,  discovered  the  smoke 
of  our  guns  rising  above  the  bushes,  attempted  to  crawl 
into  a  thicket  on  the  opposite  side.  This  gave  us  a  good 
chance,  and  we  again  fired  at  different  men,  and  with 
such  effect,  that  we  brought  them  both  down;  one  lay 
motionless,  the  otlier  crawled  along  a  few  yards ;  we  re- 
loaded in  an  instant,  and  rushed  towards  him,  yet  keep- 
ing an  eye  on  him,  as  he  had  reached  his  comrade's  gun, 
and  sat  upright  in  a  posture  of  defence.  By  our  noise 
in  the  bushes  he  discovered  the  direction  to  fire;  alas! 
too  fatally,  for  by  his  fatal  shot  I  lost  my  comrade  and 
friend  Sackville.  At  this  moment  the  two  i)risoners  who 
were  close  pinioned,  endeavoured  to  make  their  escape 
towards  me,  but  the  desperate  savage  again  fired,  and 
shot  one  of  them  dead,  the  other  gained  the  thicket 
within  a  few  yards  of  me:  I  had  now  once  more  got 
ready  to  fire,  and  discharged  at  the  wounded  Indian;  at 
tliis  discharge  I  wounded  him  in  the  neck,  from  v  (mce 
I  perceived  the  blood  to  flow  swiftly,  1)ut  he  yet  un- 
dauntedly kept  his  seat,  and  having  now  charged  his 


(  «5  ) 

guns,  fired  upon  us  with  them  both,  and  then  fell,  seem- 
ingly from  fjiintness  and  loss  of  blood.     I  ran  instantly 
to  the  pinioned  white  man  and  having  unbound  his 
arms,  and  armed  him  with  the  unfortunate  Sackville's 
musket,  we  cautiously  approached  a  few  yards  nearer 
the  wounded  Indian ;  when  I  ordered  my  new  comrade 
to  fire,  and  we  could  perceive  the  shot  took  effect.     The 
savage  still  lay  motionless.     As  soon  as  my  companion 
had  re-loaded,  we  approached  the  Indian,  whom  we 
found  not  quite  dead,  and  a  tomahawk  in  each  hand, 
which  he  flourished  at  us,  seemingly  determined  not  to 
be  taken  alive.     I,  for  my  own  part,  determined  to  take 
him  alive,  if  possible ;  but  my  comrade  prevented  me  by 
shooting   him  through  the  body.     I   now  enquired  of 
my  new  companion  what  course  we  ought  to  steer,  and 
whence  the  party  came,  from  whose  power  I  had  relieved 
him.    He  informed  me  with  respect  to  the  course,  which 
we  immediately  took,  and  on  the  way  let  me  know,  that 
we  were  within  about  three  days  march  of  Fort  Jeffer- 
son ;  that  he  and  three  others  were  taken  by  a  party  of 
ten  Wabash  Indians,  four  days  before,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  that  Fort;  that  two  of  his  companions  being 
wounded,  were  immediately  scalped  and  killed  ;  that  the 
party  at  the  time  of  taking  him,  had  in  their  possession 
seven  other  i)ri8oners,  three  of  whom  wereconnniited  to 
the  charge  of  a  party  of  four  Indians.     What  became  of 
them  we  knew  not;  the  others  being  worn  down  with 
fatigue,  were  massacred  the  day  before,  and  which  I 
found  to  be  those  whose  bodies  poor  Sackville  liad  dis- 
covered in  the  thicket ;  that  the  other  two  Indians  were 
gone  towards  the  settlements,  having  sworn  to  kill  cer- 
tain persons  whose  names  he  had  forgotten,  and  that 
destruction  seemed  to  be  their  whole  drift. 


Jl 


(96) 


* 


My  comrade,  whose  name,  on  enquiry,  I  learned  to 
be  George  Sexton,  formerlv  a  resident  of  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  I  found  to  be  an  excellent  woodsman,  and  a  man 
of  great  spirit,  and  so  grateful  for  the  deliverance  I  had 
been  instrumental  in  obtaining  for  him,  that  he  would 
not  suffer  me  to  watch  for  him  to  sleep,  but  one  hour  in 
the  four  and  twenty,  although  he  was  so  fatigued  as  to 
have  absolute  need  of  a  much  greater  proportion ;  neither 
would  permit  me  to  carry  any  of  our  baggage. 

From  the  time  of  being  joined  by  Sexton,  we  steered 
a  south-east  course,  as  direct  as  possibk-,  until  the  18th 
towards  night,  directing  our  course  by  the  sun  and  the 
moss  on  the  trees  by  day,  and  the  moon  by  night :  on 
the  evening  of  the  18th,  we  providentially  fell  in  with 
an  American  scouting  party,  who  conducted  us  safely^ 
in  a  few  hours,  to  fort  Jefferson,  where  we  were  treated 
with  great  humanity,  and  supplied  with  the  best  re- 
freshments the  fort  afforded,  which  to  me  was  very  ac- 
ceptable, as  I  had  not  tnsted  any  thing  except  wild  ber- 
ries and  ground  nuts  for  above  a  week. 

The  week  after  our  arrivel  at  fort  JefTerson,  I  was  able 
to  return  to  my  duty  in  my  own  regiment,  which,  the 
latter  end  of  August,  joined  the  army  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Indians  of  the  Miami  Village,  the  place  in 
which  I  had  suffered  so  much,  and  so  recently,  and 
where  I  had  beheld  so  many  cruelties  perpetrated  on 
unfortunate  Americans.  It  is  easier  to  conceive  than 
de8cril)e  the  perturbation  of  my  mind  on  this  occasion. 
The  risk  I  should  run  in  common  with  my  fellow  sol- 
diers, ed  heightened  by  the  certainty  of  torture  that 
awaii  ■  iiie  in  case  of  being  captured  by  the  savages. 
However,  these  reflections  only  occasioned  a  firm  resolu- 
tion of  doing  my  duty,  vigilantly,  and  selling  my  life  in 


(  97  ) 

action  as  dear  as  possible,  but  by  no  means  to  be  taken 
alive  if  I  could  evade  it  by  any  exertion  short  of  suicide. 

My  captain  shewed  me  every  kindness  in  his  power 
on  the  march,  indulged  me  with  a  horse  as  often  as  pos- 
sible, and  promised  to  use  his  influence  to  obtain  a  com- 
mission for  me,  if  I  conducted  well  the  present  expedi- 
tion;— poor  gentleman!  little  did  he  think  he  was  soon 
to  expire  gallantly  fighting  the  battles  of  his  country  I 
I  hasten  now  to  the  most  interesting  part  of  my  short 
narrative,  the  description  of  general  St.  Clair's  defeat, 
and  the  scenes  which  succeeded  it. 

On  the  8rd  of  November  we  arrived  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  Miami  Village.  Our  army  consisted  of  about 
1200  regular  troops,  and  nearly  an  equal  number  of 
militia.  The  night  of  the  3rd,  having  reason  to  expect 
an  attack,  we  were  ordered  under  arms,  about  mid- 
night, and  kept  in  order  until  just  before  day-light,  at 
which  time  our  scouts  having  been  sent  out  in  various 
directions,  and  no  enemy  discovered,  we  were  dismissed 
from  the  parade  to  take  some  refreshment.  The  men 
in  general,  almost  worn  out  with  fatigue,  had  thrown 
themselves  down  to  repose  a  little ;  but  their  rest  was  of 
short  duration,  for  before  sunrise,  the  Indians  began  a 
desperate  attack  upon  the  militia,  which  soon  threw 
them  into  disorder,  and  forced  them  to  retire  precipi- 
tately, into  the  very  heart  of  our  camp. 

Good  God !  what  were  my  feelings,  when,  starting 
from  my  slumbers,  I  heard  the  most  tremendous  firing 
all  around,  with  yellings,  horrid  whoopings,  and  expir- 
ing groans,  in  dreadful  discord,  sounding  in  my  ears.  I 
seized  my  arms,  ran  out  of  my  tent  with  several  of  my 
comrades,  and  saw  the  Indians,  with  their  bloody  toma- 
hawks and  murderous  knives  butchering  the  flying  mill- 


If 


(98  ) 

tia.  I  fled  towards  them,  filled  with  desperation,  dis- 
charged my  firelock  among  them,  and  had  the  satisfac- 
tion to  see  one  of  the  tawny  savages  fall,  whose  toma- 
hawk was  that  instant  elevated  to  strike  a  gallant  officer, 
then  engaged,  sword  in  hand,  with  a  savage  in  front. 
My  example,  I  have  reason  to  think,  animated  my  com- 
panions. Our  own  company  now  reached  the  place  we 
occupied,  and  aided  by  the  regulars  of  other  companies 
and  regiments,  who  joined  its  indiscriminately,  we  drove 
the  Indians  back  into  the  bush,  and  soon  after  formed 
in  tolerable  order,  under  as  gallant  commanders  as  ever 
died  in  defence  of  America.  The  firing  ceased  for  a  few 
minutes,  but  it  was  like  the  interval  of  a  tornado,  cal- 
culated, by  an  instantaneous,  dreadful  reverse,  to  strike 
the  deeper  horror.  In  one  and  the  same  minute,  seem- 
ingly, the  most  deadly  and  heavy  firing  took  place  in 
every  part  of  our  camp ;  the  army,  exposed  to  the  shot 
of  the  enemy,  delivered  from  the  ground,  fell  on  every 
side,  and  drenched  the  plains  with  blood,  while  the  dis- 
charge from  our  troops,  directed  almost  at  random,  I  am 
fearful  did  but  little  execution.  Orders  were  now  given 
to  charge  with  bayonets.  We  obeyed  with  alacrity  ;  a 
dreadful  swarm  of  tawny  savages  rose  from  the  ground, 
and  fled  before  us ;  but  alas !  our  officers,  rendered  con- 
spicuous by  their  exertions  to  stimulate  the  men,  be- 
came victims  of  savage  ingenuity,  and  fell  so  fast,  in 
common  with  the  rest,  that  scarce  a  shot  appeared  as 
spent  in  vain.  Advantages  gained  by  the  bayonet,  were 
by  this  means,  and  want  of  due  support,  lost  again,  and 
our  little  corps,  obliged  in  turn,  repeatedly  to  give  way 
before  the  Indians.  We  were  now  reduced  to  less  than 
half  our  original  number  of  regular  troops,  and  less  than 
a  fourth  part  of  our  officers,  our  horses  all  killed  or  taken, 


" 


(  99  ) 

our  artillery  men  all  cut  off,  and  the  pieces  in  the  enemy's 
hands ;  in  this  dreadful  dilemma  we  had  nothing  to  do 
but  to  attempt  a  retreat,  which  soon  became  a  flight, 
and  for  several  miles,  amidst  the  yells  of  Indians,  more 
dreadful  to  my  ears,  than  screams  of  damned  fiends  to 
my  ideas,  amidst  the  groans  of  dying  men,  and  the 
dreadful  sight  of  bloody  massacres  on  every  side,  perpe- 
trated by  the  Indians  on  the  unfortunate  creatures  they 
overtook,  I  endured  a  degree  of  torture  no  tongue  can 
describe  or  heart  conceive ;  yet  I  providentially  escaped 
unhurt,  and  frequently  discharged  my  musket,  I  am 
persuaded  to  effect. 

Providence  was  pleased  to  sustain  my  spirits,  and  pre- 
serve my  strength ;  .and  although  I  had  been  so  far  spent 
previous  to  setting  out  on  the  expedition,  as  to  be  unable 
to  go  upon  fatigue  for  several  days,  or  even  to  bear  a 
moderate  degree  of  exercise,  I  reached  fort  Jefferson  the 
day  after  the  action  about  ten  in  the  morning,  Ijaving 
travelled  on  foot  all  night  to  effect  it. 

Thus  have  I  made  the  reader  acquainted  with  the 
most  interesting  scenes  of  my  life;  many  of  them  are 
extraordinary,  some  of  them  perhaps  incredible;  but  all 
of  them  founded  in  fact,  which  can  be  attested  by  num- 
bers. General  St.  Clair,  in  consequence  of  my  sufferings 
and  what  he  and  others  were  pleased  to  call  soldier-like 
exertions,  presented  me  with  an  ensign's  commission,  on 
joining  the  remains  of  my  old  company,  in  which  station 
I  mean  to  serve  my  country  again,  as  far  as  my  slender 
abilities  will  permit;  trusting  that  the  same  kind  pro- 
tecting providence,  which  hath  covered  my  head  in  the 
day  of  battle,  and  shielded  me  repeatedly  in  the  hour  of 
danger,  will  dispose  of  me  as  to  infinite  wisdom  seems 
best ;  and  if  I  die  in  the  cause  of  my  country,  may  the 


(  100) 

remembrance  of  my  sufferings,  escapes,  perseverance 
through  divine  support,  and  repeated  mercies  received, 
kindle  a  flame  of  heroism  in  the  breast  of  many  an 
American  youth,  and  induce  him,  while  he  reads  the 
sufferings  of  his  unfortunate  countrymen,  to  exert  him- 
self to  defend  the  worthy  inhabitants  on  the  frontiers 
from  the  depredations  of  savages ;  whose  horrid  mode 
of  war  is  a  scene  to  be  deprecated  by  civilized  nature, 
whose  tender  mercies  are  cruelties  and  whose  faith  is  by 
no  means  to  be  depended  on,  though  pledged  in  the  most 
solemn  treaties. 


i 


\  i 


Account  of  the  Dreadful  Devastation  of  Wyoming  Settlements, 
in  July,  1778.  From  Gordon's  Histqry  of  the  American 
War. 

SO  early  as  the  8th  of  February,  1778,  General 
Schuyler  wrote  to  Congress — "There  is  too  much 
reason  to  believe,  that  an  expedition  will  be  formed  (by 
the  Indians)  against  the  western  frontiers  of  this  state, 
(New  York,)  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania."  The  next 
month  he  informed  them  that  "A  number  of  Mohawks, 
and  many  of  the  Onondagoes,  Cayugas,  and  Seneccas, 
will  commence  hostilities  against  us  as  soon  as  they 
can ;  it  would  be  prudent,  therefore,  early  to  take  meas- 
ures to  carry  the  war  into  their  country;  it  would 
require  no  greater  body  of  troops  to  destroy  their  towns 
than  to  protect  the  frontier  inhabitants.''  No  effectual 
measures  being  taken  to  repress  the  hostile  spirit  of  the 
Indians,  numbers  joined  the  tory  refugees,  and  with 
these  commenced  their  horrid  depredations  and  hostili- 


(  101  ) 

ties  upon  the  back  settlers,  being  headed  by  colonel 
Butler,  and  Brandt,  an  half  blooded  Indian,  of  desper- 
ate courage,  ferocious  and  cruel  beyond  example.   Their 
expeditions  were  carried  on  to  great  advantage,  by  the 
exact  knowledge  which  the  refugees  possessed  of  every 
object  of  their  enterprise,  and  the  immediate  intelligence 
they   received    from  their    friends   on  the  spot.    The 
weight  of  their  hostilities  fell  upon  the  fine,  new  and 
flourishing  settlement  of  Wyoming,   situated  on   the 
eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  in  a  most  beautiful 
country  and  delightful  climate.    It  was  settled  and  cul- 
tivated with  great  ardor  by  a  number  of  people  from 
Connecticut,  which  claimed  the  territory  as  included  in 
its  original  grant  from  Charles  II.    The  settlement  con- 
sisted of  eight  townships,  each  five  miles  square,  beauti- 
fully placed  on  each  side  of  the  river.     It  had  increased 
so  by  a  rapid  population,  that  the  settlers  sent  a  thou- 
sand men  to  serve  in  the  continental  army.    To  provide 
against  the  dangers  of  their  remote  situation,  four  forta 
were  constructed  to  cover  them  from  the  irruptions  of 
the  Indians.     But  it  was  their  unhappiness  to  have  a 
considerable  mixture  of  royalists  among  them ;  and  the 
two  parties  were  actuated  by  sentiments  of  the  most 
violent  animosity,  which  was  not  confined  to  particular 
families  or  places ;  but  creeping  within  the  roofs  and  to 
the  hearths  and  floors  where  it  was  least  to  be  expected, 
served  equally  to  poison  the  sources  of  domestic  security 
and  happiness,  and  to  cancel  the  laws  of  nature  and 
humanity. 

They  had  frequent  and  timely  warnings  of  the  danger 
to  which  they  were  exposed  by  sending  their  best  men 
to  so  great  a  distance.  Their  quiet  had  been  interrupted 
by  the  Indians,  joined  by  marauding  parties  of  their 


(  102  ) 


t 


I 


own  countrymen,  in  the  preceding  year;  and  it  was 
only  by  a  vigorous  opposition,  in  a  course  of  successful 
skirmishes,  that  they  had  been  driven  off.  Several 
tories,  and  otliers  not  before  suspected,  had  then  and 
since  abandoned  the  settlement;  and  besides  a  perfect 
knowledge  of  all  their  particular  circumstances,  carried 
along  with  them  such  a  stock  of  private  resentment,  as 
could  not  fail  of  directing  the  fury,  and  even  giving  an 
edge  to  the  cruelty  of  their  Indian  and  other  inveterate 
enemies.  An  unusual  number  of  strangers  had  come 
among  them  under  various  pretences,  whose  behaviour 
became  so  suspicious,  that  upon  being  taken  up  and 
examined,  such  evidence  appeared  against  several  of 
them,  of  their  acting  in  concert  with  the  enem}',  on  a 
scheme  for  the  destruction  of  the  settlements,  that 
about  twenty  were  sent  off  to  Connecticut  to  be  there 
imprisoned  and  tried  for  their  lives,  while  the  remainder 
were  expelled.  These  measures  excited  the  rage  of  the 
tories  in  general  to  the  most  extreme  degree;  and  the 
threats  formerly  denounced  against  the  settlers,  were 
now  renewed  with  aggravated  vengeance. 

As  the  time  approached  for  the  final  catastrophe,  the 
Indians  practised  unusual  treachery.  For  several  weeks 
previous  to  the  intended  attack,  they  repeatedly  sent 
small  parties  to  the  settlement,  charged  with  the 
strongest  professions  of  friendship.  These  parties,  beside 
attempting  to  lull  the  people  in  security,  answered  the 
purposes  of  communicating  with  their  friends,  and  of 
observing  the  present  state  of  affairs.  The  settlers,  how- 
ever, were  not  insensible  to  the  danger.  They  had  taken 
the  alarm,  and  colonel  Zebulon  Butler  had  several  times 
written  letters  to  congress  and  general  Washington, 
acquainting  them  with  the  danger  the  settlement  was 


\\i 


(  103  ) 

in,  and  requesting  assistance ;  but  the  letters  were  never 
received,  having  been  intercepted  by  the  Pennsylvania 
tories.  A  little  before  the  main  attack,  some  small 
parties  made  sudden  irruptions,  and  committed  several 
robberies  and  murders;  and  from  ignorance  or  a  con- 
tempt of  all  ties  whatever,  massacred  the  wife  and  five 
children  of  one  of  the  persons  sent  for  trial  to  Connecti- 
cut, in  their  own  cause. 

At  length,  in  the  beginning  of  July,  the  enemy  sud- 
denly appeared  in  full  force  on  the  Susquehanna,  headed 
by  colonel  John  Butler,  a  Connecticut  tory,  and  cousin 
to  colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  the  second  in  command  in 
the  settlement.  He  was  assisted  by  most  of  those 
leaders,  who  had  rendered  themselves  terrible  in  the 
present  frontier  war.  Their  force  was  about  IGCX)  men, 
near  a  fourth  Indians,  led  by  their  own  chiefs;  the 
others  were  so  disguised  and  painted,  as  not  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  Indians,  excepting  their  officers, 
who,  being  dressed  in  regimentals,  carried  the  appear- 
ance of  regulars.  One  of  the  smaller  forts,  garrisoned 
chiefly  by  tories,  was  given  up,  or  rather  betrayed. 
Another  was  taken  by  storm,  and  all  but  the  women 
and  children  massacred  in  the  most  inhuman  manner. 

Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  leaving  a  small  number  to 
guard  Fort  Wilkesborough,  crossed  the  river  with  about 
400  men,  and  marched  into  Kingston  fort,  whither  the 
women,  children  and  defenceless  of  all  sorts  crowded 
for  protection.  He  suffered  himself  to  be  enticed  by  his 
cousin  to  abandon  the  fortress.  He  agreed  to  march 
out,  and  hold  a  conference  with  the  enemy  in  tlie  open 
field  (at  so  great  a  distance  from  the  fort,  as  to  shut  out 
all  possibility  of  protection  from  it )  upon  their  with- 
drawing, according  to  their  own  proposal,  in  order  to  the 


I  i 


C  104  ) 

holding  of  a  parley  for  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty.  He 
at  the  same  time  marched  out  about  400  men  well  armed, 
being  nearly  the  whole  strength  of  the  garrison,  to  guard 
his  pertjon  to  the  place  of  parley,  such  was  his  distrust 
of  the  enemy's  designs.  On  his  arrival  he  found  no  body 
to  treat  with,  and  yet  advanced  toward  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  where,  at  a  distance,  he  saw  a  flag,  the  holders 
of  which,  seemingly  afraid  of  treachery  on  his  side,  re- 
tired as  he  advanced ;  whilst  he,  endeavouring  to  remove 
this  pretended  ill-impressicn,  pursued  the  Hag,  till  his 
party  was  thoroughly  enclosed,  when  he  was  suddenly 
freed  from  his  delusion,  by  finding  it  attacked  at  once 
on  every  side.  He  and  his  men,  notwithstimding  the 
surprise  and  danger,  fought  with  resolution  and  bravery, 
and  kept  up  so  continual  and  heavy  a  fire  for  three 
quarters  of  an  hour,  that  they  seemed  to  gain  a  marked 
superiority.  In  this  critical  moment,  a  soldier,  through 
a  sudden  impulse  of  fear,  or  premeditated  treachery^ 
cried  out  aloud — "  the  colonel  has  ordered  a  retreat." 
The  fate  of  the  party  was  now  at  once  determined.  In 
the  state  of  confusion  that  ensued,  an  unresisted  slaugh- 
ter commenced,  while  the  enemy  broke  in  on  all  sides 
without  obstruction.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  and  about 
seventy  of  his  men  escaped ;  the  latter  got  across  the 
river  to  Fort  Wilkesborough,  the  colonel  made  his  way 
to  Fort  Kingston,  which  was  invested  the  next  day  on 
the  land  side.  The  enemy,  to  sadden  the  drooping 
spirits  of  the  weak  remaining  garrison,  sent  in,  for  their 
contemplation,  the  bloody  scalps  of  a  hundred  and 
ninety-six  of  their  late  friends  and  comrades.  They 
kept  up  a  continual  fire  upon  the  fort  the  whole  day. 
In  the  evening  the  colonel  quitted  the  fort  and  went 
down  the  river  with  his  family.  He  is  thought  to  be 
the  only  officer  that  escaped. 


(  105) 


in 
h- 


Colonel  Nathan  Dennison,  who  succeeded  to  the  com- 
mand, seeing  the  impossibility  of  an  effectual  defence, 
went  with  a  flag  to  colonel  John  Butler,  to  know  what 
terms  he  would  grunt  on  a  surrender;  to  which  applica- 
tion Butler  answered,  with  more  than  savage  phlegm,  in 
two  short  words — the  hatchet.  Dennison  having  defended 
the  fort,  till  most  of  the  garrison  were  killed  or  disabled, 
was  compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion.  Some  of  the 
unhappy  persons  in  the  fort  were  carried  away  alive ; 
but  the  barbarous  conquerors,  to  save  the  trouble  of 
murder  in  detail,  shut  up  the  rest  promiscuously  in  the 
houses  and  barracks;  which  having  set  on  fire,  they  en- 
joyed the  savage  pleasure  of  beholding  the  whole  con- 
sumed in  one  general  blaze. 

They  then  crossed  the  river  to  the  only  remaining 
fort,  Wilkesborough,  which,  in  hopes  of  mercy,  surren- 
dered without  demanding  any  conditions.  They  found 
about  seventy  continental  soldiers,  who  had  been  en- 
gaged merely  for  the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  whom  they 
butchered  with  every  circumstance  of  horrid  cruelty. 
The  remainder  of  the  men,  with  the  women  and  child- 
ren, were  shut  up  as  before  in  the  houses,  which  being 
set  on  fire,  they  perished  altogether  in  the  flames. 

A  general  scene  of  devastation  was  now  spread  through 
all  the  townships.  Fire,  sword,  and  the  other  different 
instruments  of  destruction,  alternately  triumphed.  The 
settlements  of  the  tories  alone  generally  escaped,  and  ap- 
peared as  islands  in  the  midst  of  the  surrounding  ruin. 
The  merciless  ravagers  having  destroyed  the  main  ob- 
jects of  their  cruelty,  directed  their  animosity  to  every 
part  of  living  nature  belonging  to  them  ;  shot  and  de- 
stroyed some  of  their  cattle,  and  cut  out  the  tongues  of 
others,  leaving  them  still  alive  to  prolong  their  agonies. 


(  106) 


n-i 


(hii 


i 


The  following  are  a  few  of  the  more  singular  circum- 
stances of  the  barbarity  practiced  in  the  attack  upon 
Wyoming.  Captain  Bedlock,  who  had  been  taken  pri- 
soner, being  stripped  naked,  had  his  body  stuck  full  of 
splinters  of  pine  knots,*  and  then  a  heap  of  pine  knots 
piled  around  him ;  the  whole  was  then  set  on  fire,  and 
his  two  companions,  captains  Ransonand  Durgee,  thrown 
alive  into  the  flames  and  held  down  with  pitch-forks. 
The  returned  tories,  who  had  at  different  times  aband- 
oned the  settlements  in  ord^r  to  join  in  those  savage 
expeditions,  were  the  most  distinguished  for  their  cruelty ; 
in  this  they  resembled  the  tories  that  joined  the  British 
forces.  One  of  these  Wyoming  tories,  whose  mother 
had  married  a  second  husband,  butchered,  with  his  own 
hands,  both  her,  his  father-in-law,  his  own  sisters,  and 
their  infant  children.  Another,  who  during  his  absence 
had  sent  home  several  threats  againnt  the  life  of  his 
father,  now  not  only  realised  them  in  person,  but  was 
himself,  with  his  own  hands,  the  exterminator  of  his 
whole  family,  mother,  brothers  and  sisters,  and  mingled 
their  blood  in  one  common  carnage,  with  that  of  the 
ancient  husband  and  father.  The  broken  parts  and  scat- 
tered relics  of  families,  consisting  mostly  of  women  and 
children,  who  had  escaped  to  the  woods  during  the  dif- 
ferent scenes  of  this  devastation,  suffered  little  less  than 
their  friends,  who  had  perished  in  the  ruin  of  their 
houses.  Dispersed  and  wandering  in  the  forests,  as 
chance  and  fear  directed,  without  provision  or  covering, 
they  had  a  long  tract  of  country  to  traverse,  and  many 
without  doubt  perished  in  the  woods. 

*  Pine  knots  are  so  replete  with  turpentine,  that  they  are  fired 
and  used  at  night  to  iUuniinate  the  room  ;  and  lighted  splinters  are 
often  carried  about  in  the  houses  of  the  Carolina  planters  instead  of 
candles. 


(  107  ) 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  a  Gentleman  in  Augustine  to  hia 

Friend  in  Virginia. 

"Dear  Sir, 

ON  the  night  of  the  3d  February  last,  there  arrived 
in  this  place,  in  a  deplorable  condition,  Mrs. 
Mary  Jordan,  who,  with  her  husband  and  six  children, 
were,  in  January  last,  carried  away  captives  by  the 
Indians.  Mrs.  Jordan  has  furnished  me  with  the  fol- 
lowing melancholy  account  of  the  massacre  of  her  hus- 
band and  children,  and  of  her  own  sufferings  while 
with  the  savages. 

"On  the  night  of  22d  Jan.  1807,  we  were  suddenly 
awakened  from  slumber  by  the  hideous  yells  of  savages, 
who  before  we  could  put  ourselves  in  a  situation  to 
oppose  them,  succeeded  in  forcing  the  doors  of  the 
house.  They  were,  to  the  number  of  forty  or  fifty, 
frightfully  painted,  and  armed  with  tomahawks  and 
scalping  knives.  My  husband  met  them  at  the  door, 
and  in  their  own  tongue  asked  them  what  they  wanted 
— 'The  scalps  of  your  family!'  was  their  answer.  My 
husband  entreated  them  to  have  compassion  on  me  and 
his  innocent  children,  but  his  entreaties  availed  noth- 
ing; we  were  dragged  naked  out  of  the  house,  and  tied 
severally  with  cords.  By  order  of  one,  who  appeared 
to  be  the  chief,  about  twenty  of  the  Indians  took  charge 
of  us,  who  were  ordered  to  conduct  us  with  all  possible 
dispatch  to  their  settlement  (about  200  miles  distant) 
while  the  remainder  were  left  to  pillage  and  fire  the 
house.  We  commenced  our  journey  about  midnight, 
through  an  uni?ultivated  wilderness,  at  the  rate  of  nearly 
seven  miles  an  hour.     If  either  of  us,  through  fatigue, 


• 


(  108  ) 


slackened  our  pace,  we  were  most  inhumanly  beaten 
and  threatened  with  instant  death. 

"After  ft  tedious  travel  of  more  than  40  miles,  the 
savages  halted  in  a  swamp; — here  for  the  first  time, 
from  the  time  of  our  departure,  we  were  permitted  to 
lie  down — the  Indians  kindled  a  fire,  on  which  they 
broile<l  some  bear's  flesh,  of  which  they  allowed  us  but 
a  small  portion. 

"After  they  had  refreshed  themselves  and  extin- 
guished their  fire,  we  were  again  compelled  to  pursue  our 
journey.  We  travelled  until  sunset,  when  the  Indians 
again  halted,  and  began  to  prepare  a  covering  for  them- 
selves for  the  night.  My  poor  children  complained 
much  of  their  feet  being  swollen,  but  I  was  not  per- 
mitted to  give  them  any  relief,  nor  was  their  father 
allowed  to  discourse  with  them.  As  night  approached, 
we  shook  each  other  by  the  hand,  expecting  never  again 
to  witness  the  rising  of  the  sun.  Contrary  to  our  expec- 
tations, however,  we  had  a  tolerable  night's  rest,  and  on 
the  succeeding  day,  though  naked  and  half  starved, 
travelled  with  much  more  ease  than  on  the  preceding 
one.  The  Indians  occasicmally  allowed  us  a  little  raw 
food,  sufiicient  only  to  keep  us  alive; — we  this  day 
travelled,  according  to  the  reckoning  of  the  Indians, 
nearly  forty  miles,  and  were,  about  sunset,  joined  by  the 
remaining  savages  who  were  left  behind;  they  were 
loaded  with  the  spoils  of  my  husband's  property; 
among  other  articles  they  had  a  keg  of  spirits  of  which 
they  had  drank  plentifully;  as  they  l)ecame  intoxi- 
cated, they  exercised  the  more  cruelty  towards  us — they 
beat  my  poor  children  so  unmercifully  that  they  were 
unable  to  stand  on  their  feet  the  ensuing  morning — the 
Indians  attributed   their  inability   to  wilfulness,  and 


(  109  ) 


ty; 

ich 


again  renewed  their  acts  of  barbarity,  beating  them 
with  clubs,  cutting  and  gashing  them  with  their  knives 
and  scorching  their  naked  bodies  with  brands  of  fire. 
Finding  that  their  hellish  plans  had  no  other  effect 
than  to  render  the  poor,  unhappy  sufferers  less  able  to 
travel,  they  came  to  the  resolution  to  butcher  them  on 
the  spot. 

"Six  holes  were  dug  in  the  earth,  of  about  five  feet  in 
depth,  around  each  of  which  some  dried  branches  of 
trees  were  placed.  My  husband  at  this  moment,  filled 
with  horror  at  what  he  expected  was  about  to  take 
place,  broke  tlie  rope  with  which  he  was  bound,  and 
attempted  to  escape  from  the  hands  of  the  unmerciful 
cannibals — he  was,  however,  closely  pursued,  soon  over- 
taken and  brought  back — as  he  passed  me,  he  cast  his 
eyes  towards  me  and  fainted — in  this  situation  he  was 
placed  erect  in  one  of  the  holes.  The  woods  now  re- 
sounded with  the  heart-piercing  cries  of  my  poor  chil- 
dren— "  spare,  O  spare  my  father,"  was  their  cry — "have 
mercy  on  my  poor  children!"  was  the  cry  of  their 
father;  it  availed  nothing — my  dear  children  were  all 
placed  in  a  situation  similar  to  that  of  their  father — 
the  youngest  (only  nine  years  old)  broke  from  them, 
and  ran  up  to  me,  crying,  "  donH,  mamma,  mamma,  donH 
let  them  kill  me !" 

"Alas,  O  Heavens,  what  could  I  do?  In  vain  did  I 
beg  of  them  to  let  me  take  my  dear  child's  place! — by 
force  it  was  torn  from  me  in  an  hour  when  I  could 
afford  it  no  protection. 

"  Having  placed  the  poor  unfortunate  victims  in  the 
manner  above  described,  they  secured  them  in  a  stand- 
ing position  by  rej  lacing  the  earth,  which  buried  them 
nearly  to  their  necks! 


(110) 


ti 


T  i 
I. 


"The  inhuman  wretches  now  began  their  hideous 
pow-wows,  dancing  to  and  fro  around  the  victims  of 
their  torture,  which  they  continued  about  half  an  hour, 
when  they  communicated  fire  to  the  fatal  piles !  Heaven 
only  knows  what  my  feelings  were  at  this  moment !  As 
the  flames  increased,  the  shrieks  and  dying  groans  of 
my  poor  family  were  heightened! — thank  heaven!  their 
sufferings  were  of  short  duration ; — in  less  than  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  from  the  time  the  fire  was  first  com- 
municated, their  cries  ceased,  and  they  sunk  into  the 
arms  of  their  kind  deliverer. 

"The  callous-hearted  wretches  having  sufficiently 
feasted  their  eyes  with  the  agonies  of  the  unfortunate 
sufferers,  retired  to  regale  themselves  with  what  liquors 
remained;  they  drank  freely,  and  soon  became  stupid 
and  senseless ;  with  one  of  their  tomahawks  I  might 
with  ease  have  dispatched  them  all,  but  my  only  desire 
was  to  flee  from  them  as  quick  as  possible.  I  succeeded 
with  difliculty  in  liberating  myself  by  cutting  the  cord 
with  which  I  was  bound,  on  which  I  bent  my  course  for 
this  place.  A  piece  of  bear's  flesh,  which  I  fortunately 
found  in  one  of  the  Indian's  packs,  served  me  for  food. 
I  travelled  only  by  night,  in  the  day  time  concealing 
myself  in  the  thick  swamps  or  hollow  trees.  A  party 
of  Indians  passed  within  a  few  rods  of  the  place  of  my 
concealment  the  second  day  after  my  departure,  but  did 
not  discover  me ;  they  were  undoubtedly  of  the  same 
party  from  whence  I  had  escaped,  in  pursuit  of  me.  Two 
days  after,  I  was  met  by  an  Indian  of  the  Shawanese 
nation;  he  proved  friendly, and  conducted  me  to  a  white 
settlement;  without  his  assistance  I  must  have  again 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  my  savage  foes." 


( 111 ) 


kame 
It  wo 
Inese 
^hite 
Kiain 


The  following  is  Extracted  from  Colonel  Humphrey's  Life 
of  General  Putnam  ;  it  ha}yp€ned  in  August,  1758. 

IN  THE  month  of  August,  five  hundred  men  were 
employed,  under  the  orders  of  Majors  Rogers  and 
Putnam,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  near  Ticon- 
deroga.  At  South-Bay  they  sej^arated  the  party  into 
two  equal  divisions,  and  Rogers  took  a  position  on  Wood 
Creek,  twelve  miles  distant  from  Putnam. 

Upon  being,  sometime  afterwards,  discovered,  they 
formed  a  reunion,  and  concerted  measures  for  returning 
to  Fort-Edward.  Their  march  through  the  woods,  was 
in  three  divisionshy  files,  the  right  commanded  by  Rogers, 
the  left  by  Putnam,  and  the  centre  by  Captain  D'Ell. 
The  first  night  they  encamped  on  the  banks  of  Clear 
River,  about  a  mile  from  old  Fort-Ann,  which  had  been 
formerly  built  by  General  Nicholson.  Next  morning 
Major  Rogers,  and  a  British  ofticer,  named  Irwin,  in- 
cautiously suffered  themselves,  from  a  spirit  of  false 
emulation,  to  be  engaged  in  firing  at  a  mark.  Nothing 
could  have  been  more  repugnant  to  the  military  princi- 
ples of  Putnam  than  such  conduct;  or  reprobated  by  him 
in  more  pointed  terms.  As  soon  as  the  heavy  dew 
which  had  fallen  the  preceding  night  would  permit,  the 
detachment  moved  in  one  body,  Putnam  being  in 
front,  D'Ell  in  centre,  and  Rogers  in  the  rear.  The  im- 
pervious growth  of  shrubs  and  under-brush  that  had 
sprung  uj),  where  the  land  had  l)een  partially  cleared 
some  years  before,  occasioned  this  change  in  the  order 
of  march.  At  the  moment  of  moving,  tlie  famous  French 
partisan,  Molang,  who  had  been  sent  with  five  hundred 
men  to  intercept  our  party,  was  not  more  than  one  mile 


(  112  ) 


i 


\ 


0^ii 


f! 


and  a  half  distant  from  them.  Having  heard  the  firing, 
he  hasted  to  lay  an  ambuscade  precisely  in  that  part  of 
the  wood  most  favorable  to  his  project.  Major  Putnam 
was  just  emerging  from  the  thicket,  into  the  common 
forest,  when  the  enemy  rose,  and  with  discordant  yells 
and  whoops,  commenced  an  attack  upon  the  right  of 
his  division.  Surprised,  but  undismayed,  Putnam  halted, 
returned  the  fire,  and  passed  the  word  for  the  other  di- 
vision to  advance  for  his  support.  D'EU  came.  The 
action,  though  widely  scattered,  and  principally  fought 
between  man  and  man,  soon  grew  general  and  intensely 
warm.  It  would  be  as  difficult  as  useless  to  describe 
this  irregular  and  ferocious  mode  of  fighting.  Rogers 
came  not  up :  but,  as  he  declared  afterwards,  formed  a 
circular  file  between  our  party  and  Wood  Creek,  to  pre- 
vent their  being  taken  in  rear  or  enfiladed.  Successful 
as  he  commonly  was,  his  conduct  did  not  always  pass 
without  unfavorable  imputation.  Notwithstanding,  it 
was  a  current  saying  in  the  camp,  "  that  Rogers  always 
sent,  but  Putnam  led  his  men  to  action,"  yet,  in  justice, 
it  ought  to  be  remarked  here,  that  the  latter  has  never 
been  known,  in  relating  the  story  of  this  day's  disaster, 
to  affix  any  stigma  upon  the  conduct  of  the  former. 

Major  Putnam,  perceiving  it  would  be  impracticable 
to  cross  the  creek,  determined  to  maintain  his  ground. 
Inspired  by  his  example,  the  officers  and  men  behaved 
with  great  braver}' :  sometimes  they  fought  aggregately 
in  open  view,  and  sometimes  individually  under  cover ; 
taking  aim  from  behind  the  bodies  of  trees,  and  acting 
in  a  manner  independent  of  each  other.  For  himself, 
having  discharged  his  fuzee  several  times,  at  length  it 
missed  fire,  while  the  muzzle  was  pressed  against  the 
breast  of  a  large  and  well  proportioned  Savage.    This 


( 11-3 ) 


pass 

ig,  it 


■ 

} 


warrior,  availing  himself  of  the  indefensible  attitude  of 
his  adversary,  with  a  tremendous  war-whoop  sprang 
forward,  with  his  lifted  hatchet,  and  compelled  him  to 
surrender;  and  having  disarmed  and  bound  him  fast  to 
a  tree,  returned  to  the  battle. 

The  intrepid  Captains  D'Ell  and  Harman,  who  now 
commanded,  were  forced  to  give  ground  for  a  little  dis- 
tance; the  savages  conceiving  this  to  be  the  certain  har- 
binger of  victory,  rushed  impetuously  on,  with  dreadful 
and  redouV)led  cries.  But  our  two  partizans,  collecting 
a  handful  of  brave  men,  gave  the  pursuers  so  warm  a 
reception,  as  to  oblige  them,  in  turn,  to  retreat  a  little 
beyond  the  8i)ot  at  which  the  action  had  commenced. 
Here  they  made  a  stand.  This  change  of  ground  oc- 
casioned the  tree  to  which  Putnam  was  tied  to  be  directly 
between  the  fire  of  the  two  parties.  Human  imagina- 
tion can  scarcely  figure  to  itself  a  more  deplorable  situa- 
tion. The  balls  tlew  incessantly  from  either  side,  many 
struck  the  tree,  while  some  passed  through  the  sleeves 
and  skirts  of  his  coat.  In  this  state  of  jeopardy,  unable 
to  move  his  body,  to  stir  his  limbs,  or  even  incline  his 
head,  he  remained  more  than  an  hour — so  equally 
balanced  and  obstinate  was  the  fight !  At  one  moment, 
while  the  battle  swerved  in  favour  of  the  enemy,  a  young 
Savage  chose  an  odd  way  of  discovering  his  humor.  He 
found  Putnam  bound.  He  might  have  dispatched  him 
at  a  blow.  But  he  loved  better  to  excite  the  terrors  of 
the  prisoner,  by  hurling  a  tomahawk  at  his  head,  or 
rather  it  should  seem  his  object  was  to  see  how  near  he 
could  throw  it  without  touching  him ; — the  weapon 
struck  in  the  tree  a  number  of  times  at  a  liair's  breadth 
distance  from  the  mark.  When  the  Indian  had  finished 
his  amusement,  a  French  Bas-Ofticer,  (a  much  more  in- 


u 


(114) 


veterate  savage  by  nature,  though  descended  from  so 
humane  and  polished  a  nation,)  perceiving  Putnam, 
came  up  to  him,  and  levelling  a  fuzee  within  a  foot  of 
his  breast,  attempted  to  discharge  it;  it  missed  fire — 
ineffectually  did  the  intended  victim  solicit  the  treat- 
ment due  to  his  situation,  by  repeating  that  he  was  a 
prisoner  of  war.  The  degenerate  Frenchman  did  not 
understand  the  language  of  honor  or  of  nature:  deaf  to 
their  voice,  and  dead  to  sensibilit}',  he  violently  and  re- 
peatedly puslied  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  against  Putnam's 
ribs,  and  linally  gave  him  a  cruel  blow  on  the  jaw  with 
the  butt  of  his  piece.  After  this  dastardly  deed,  he  left 
him. 

At  length  the  active  intrepidity  of  D'Ell  and  Har- 
man,  seconded  by  the  persevering  valor  of  their  fol- 
lowers, prevailed.  They  drove  from  the  field  the  enemy, 
who  left  about  ninety  dead  behind  them.  As  they  were 
retiring,  Putnam  was  untied  by  the  Indians  who  had 
made  him  prisoner,  and  whom  he  afterwards  called 
master.  Having  been  conducted  for  some  distance  from 
the  place  of  action,  he  was  stripped  of  his  coat,  vest, 
stockings  and  shoes ;  loaded  with  as  many  of  the  packs 
of  the  wounded  as  could  be  piled  upon  him ;  strongly 
pinioned,  and  his  wrists  tied  as  closely  together  as  they 
could  be  pulled  with  a  cord.  After  he  had  marched, 
through  no  pleasant  paths,  in  this  painful  manner,  for 
many  a  tedious  mile,  the  party  (who  were  excessively 
fatigued)  halted  to  breathe.  His  hands  were  now  im- 
moderately swelled  from  the  tightness  of  the  ligature: 
and  the  pain  had  become  intolerable.  His  feet  were  so 
much  scratched  that  the  blood  dropped  fast  from  them. 
Exhausted  with  bearing  a  burden  above  his  strength, 
and  frantic  with  torments  exquisite  beyond  endurance, 


/ 


/ 


(  115  ) 

he  entreated  the  Irish  interpreter  to  implore  as  the  last 
and  only  grace  he  desired  of  the  Savages  that  they 
would  knock  him  on  the  head  and  take  his  scalp  at 
once,  or  loose  his  hands.  A  French  officer,  instantly 
interposing,  ordered  his  hands  to  be  unbound,  and  some 
of  the  packs  to  be  taken  off.  By  this  time  the  Indian 
who  captured  him  and  had  been  absent  with  the 
wounded,  coming  up,  gave  him  a  pair  of  mocasons,  and 
expressed  great  indignation  at  the  unworthy  treatment 
his  prisoner  had  sutlered. 

That  Savage  Chief  again  returned  to  the  care  of  the 
wounded,  and  the  Indians,  about  two  hundred  in  num- 
ber, went  before  the  rest  of  the  party  to  the  place  where 
the  whole  were  that  night  to  encamp.  They  took  with 
them  Major  Putnam,  on  whom  (besides  innumerable 
other  outrages)  they  had  the  barbarity  to  inflict  a  deep 
wound  with  a  tomahawk,  in  the  left  cheek.  His  suffer- 
ings were  in  this  place  to  be  consummated.  A  scene  of 
horror,  infinitely  greater  than  had  ever  met  his  eyes 
before,  was  now  preparing.  It  was  determined  to  roast 
him  alive.  For  this  purpose  they  led  him  into  a  dark 
forest,  stripped  him  naked,  bound  him  to  a  tree,  and 
piled  dry  brush  with  other  fuel,  at  a  small  distance  in  a 
circle  round  him.  They  accompanied  their  labours,  as 
if  for  his  funeral  dirge,  with  screams  and  sounds  inimit- 
able but  by  savage  voices.  Then  they  set  the  piles  on 
fire.  A  sudden  shower  damped  tlie  rising  flame.  Still 
they  strove  to  kindle  it,  until,  at  last,  the  blaze  ran 
fiercely  round  the  circle.  Major  Putnam  soon  began  to 
feel  the  scorching  heat.  His  hands  were  so  tied  that  he 
could  move  his  body.  He  often  shifted  sides  as  the  fire 
approached.  This  sight,  at  the  very  idea  of  which  all 
but  Savages  must  shudder,  afforded  the  highest  diver- 


\y> 


w^ 


:  I 


(  116  ) 

fiion  to  his  inhuman  tormentors,  who  demonstrated 
the  delirium  of  their  joy  l)y  corresponding  yells, 
dances  and  gesticulations.  He  saw  clearly  that  his  final 
hour  was  inevitably  come.  He  summoned  all  his  reso- 
lution and  composed  his  mind,  as  far  as  the  circum- 
fitances  would  admit,  to  bid  an  eternal  farewell  to  all  he 
held  most  dear.  To  quit  the  world  would  scarcely  have 
cost  a  single  panir,  but  for  the  idea  of  home,  the  remem- 
brance of  domestic  endearments,  of  the  afiectionate 
partner  of  his  soul,  and  of  their  beloved  offspring.  His 
mind  was  ultimately  fixed  on  a  happier  state  of  exist- 
ence, beyond  the  torture  he  was  beginning  to  endure. 
The  bitterness  of  death,  even  of  that  death  which  is 
accompnnied  with  the  keenest  agonies,  was,  in  a  man- 
ner, past — nature,  with  a  feeble  struggle,  was  quitting 
its  last  hold  on  sublunary  things — when  a  French  officer 
rushed  through  the  crowd,  opened  a  way  by  scattering 
the  burning  brands,  and  unbound  the  victim.  It  was 
Molnng  himself — to  whom  a  Savage,  unwilling  to  see 
another  human  sacrifice  immolated,  had  run  and  com- 
municated the  tidings.  That  Commandant  spurned 
and  severely  reprimanded  the  barbarians,  whose  noc- 
turnal Pow-wows  and  hellish  Orgies  he  suddenly  ended. 
Putnam  did  not  want  for  feeling  and  gratitude.  The 
French  Commander,  fearing  to  trust  him  alone  with 
them,  remained  until  he  could  deliver  him  in  safety 
into  the  hands  of  his  master. 

■The  Savage  approached  his  prisoner  kindly,  and 
seemed  to  treat  him  with  particular  affection.  He 
offered  him  some  hard  biscuit,  but  finding  that  he 
could  not  chew  them,  on  account  of  the  blow  he  had 
received  from  the  Frenchman,  this  more  humane  savage 


[e 
I  he 
iad 


! 


(  117  ) 

soaked  some  of  the  biscuit  in  water  and  made  him  suck 
the  pulp-like  part.  Determined,  however,  not  to  lose 
his  captive  (the  refreshment  being  finished)  he  took  the 
mocasons  from  his  feet  and  tied  them  to  one  of  his 
wrists:  then  directing  him  to  lie  down  on  his  back  upon 
the  bare  ground,  he  stretched  one  arm  to  its  full  length, 
and  bound  it  fast  to  a  young  tree ;  the  other  arm  was 
extended  and  bound  in  the  same  manner — his  legs  were 
stretched  apart  and  fastened  to  two  saplings.  Then  a 
number  of  tall,  Init  slender  poles  were  cut  down ;  which, 
with  some  long  bushes,  were  laid  across  his  body  from 
head  to  foot:  on  each  side  lay  as  many  Indians  as  could 
conveniently  find  lodging,  in  order  to  i)revent  tlie  j)c)ssi- 
bility  of  his  escape.  In  this  disagreeable  and  painful 
posture  he  remained  until  morning.  During  this  night, 
the  longest  and  most  dreary  conceivable,  our  hero  used 
to  relate  that  he  felt  a  ray  of  cheerfulness  come  casually 
across  his  mind,  and  could  not  even  refrain  from  smil- 
ing, when  he  reflected  on  this  ludicrous  groupe  for  a 
painter,  of  which  he  himself  was  the  principal  figure. 

The  next  day  he  was  allowed  his  blanket  and  moca- 
sons, and  permitted  to  march  without  cairying  any 
pack,  or  receiving  any  insult.  To  allay  his  extreme 
hunger,  a  little  bear's  meat  was  given,  which  he  sucked 
through  his  teeth.  At  night,  the  party  arrived  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  and  the  prisoner  was  placed  under  the  care  of  a 
French  guard.  The  Savages,  who  had  been  prevented 
from  glutting  their  diabolical  thirst  for  blood,  took  other 
opportunity  of  manifesting  their  malevclence  for  the 
disappointment,  by  horrid  grimaces  and  angry  gestures : 
but  they  were  suffered  no  more  to  offer  violence  or  per- 
sonal indignity  to  him. 


^p 


«■<«* 


^^^mmim^m 


(  118  ) 

After  having  been  examined  by  the  Marquis  do 
Montcahii,  Major  Putnam  was  conducted  to  Montreal, 
by  a  French  officer,  who  treated  him  with  the  greatest 
indulgence  and  humanity. 


<  I 


I 


}  do 
real, 
a,  test 


AN  ACCOUNT 


OF  THE 


REMARKABLE  OCCURRENCES 


IX  THE  LIFE  AND  TRAVELS  OF 

Col.  James  Smith, 

(Now  a  Citizen  of  Bourbon  County,  Kentucky,) 
DURING    HIS   CAPTIVITY    WITH    THE    INDIANS, 

IN  THE  YEARS  1 755»'56,'5 7»'58,  & '59. 

In  which  the  Customs,  Manners,  Traditions,  Tlieological 
Sentiments,  Mode  of  Warfare,  Military  Tactics,  Disci- 
pline and  Encampments,  Treatment  of  jjrisoners,  &:c. 
are  better  explained,  and  more  minutely  related,  than 
has  been  heretofore  done,  by  any  author  on  that  subject. 
Together  with  a  Description  of  the  Soil,  Timber  and 
Waters,  where  he  travelled  with  the  Indians,  during  his 
captivity. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 

A  Brief  Account  of  some  very  Uncommon  Occurrences, 
which  transpired  after  his  return  from  captivity;  as  well 
as  of  the  Different  Campaigns  carried  on  against  the 
Indians  to  the  westward  of  Fort  Pitt,  since  the  year 
1755,  to  the  present  date. 


WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 


Vi 


:t 


.V 


P; 


PREFACE. 

I  WAS  strongly  urged  to  publish  the  following  work, 
immediately  after  my  return  from  captivity,  which  was 
nearly  forty  years  ago — but,  as  at  that  time  the  Ameri- 
cans were  so  little  acquainted  with  Indian  affairs,  I 
apprehended  a  great  part  of  it  would  be  viewed  as  fable 
or  romance. 

As  the  Indians  never  attempted  to  prevent  mo  either 
from  reading  or  writing,  I  kept  a  Journal,  which  I  re- 
vised shortly  after  my  return  from  captivity,  and  which 
I  have  kept  ever  since :  and  as  I  have  had  but  a  moder- 
ate English  education,  have  been  advised  to  employ 
some  person  of  liberal  education  to  transcribe  and  em- 
bellish it — but  believing  that  nature  always  outshines 
art,  have  thought,  that  occurrences  truly  and  plainly 
stated,  as  they  happened,  would  make  the  best  history, 
be  better  understood,  and  most  entertaining. 

In  the  different  Indian  speeches  copied  into  this 
work,  I  have  not  only  imitated  tlieir  own  style,  or  mode 
of  speaking,  but  have  also  preserved  the  ideas  meant  to 
be  communicated  in  those  speeches — In  common  con- 
versation, I  have  used  my  own  style,  but  preserved  their 
ideas.  The  principal  advantage  that  I  expect  will  result 
to  the  public,  from  the  i)ublication  of  the  following 
sheets,  is  the  ohseuv\tions  on  the  Indian  mode  of  war- 
FAUE.  Experience  lias  taught  the  Americans  the  neces- 
sity of  adopting  their  mode,  and  the  more  perfect  we 
are  in  that  mode,  the  better  we  shall  be  able  to  defend 
ourselves  against  them,  when  defence  is  necessary. 

JAMES  SMITH. 

Bourhon  County,  June  \st,  1799. 


REMARKABLE 


OCCURRENCES,  &c. 


IN  May,  1755,  the  province  of  Pennsylvania  agreed  to 
send  out  three  hundred  men,  in  order  to  cut  a 
waggon  road  from  Fort  Loudon,  to  join  Braddock's  road, 
near  the  Turkey  Foot,  or  three  forks  of  Youghiogeny. 
My  brother-in-hiw,  William  Smith,  Esq.  of  Conocochea- 
gue,  was  appointed  commissioner,  to  have  the  oversight 
of  these  road-cutters. 

Though  I  was  at  the  time  only  eighteen  years  of  age, 
I  had  fallen  violently  in  love  with  a  young  lady,  whom 
I  apprehended  was  possessed  of  a  large  share  of  both 
beauty  and  virtue; — but  being  born  between  Venus  and 
Mars,  I  concluded  I  must  also  leave  my  dear  fair  one, 
and  go  out  with  this  company  of  road-cutters,  to  see  the 
event  of  this  campaign ;  but  still  expecting  that  some- 
time in  the  course  of  this  summer,  I  shoukl  again  return 
to  the  arms  of  my  beloved. 

We  went  on  with  the  road,  without  interruption,  un- 
till  near  the  Allegheny  Mountain  ;  when  I  was  sent  back, 
in  order  to  hurry  up  some  provision  waggons  that  were 
on  the  way  after  us.  I  proceeded  down  the  road  as  far 
as  the  crossings  of  Juniata,  where,  finding  the  waggons 
were  coming  on  as  fast  as  possible,  I  returned  up  the 
road  again  towards  the  Allegheny  Mountain,  in  com- 
pany with  one  Arnold  X'igoras.  About  four  or  five 
miles  above  Bedford,  three  Indians  had  made  a  blind 
of  bushes,  stuck  in  the  ground,  as  though  they  grew 
naturally,  where  they  concealed  themselves,  about  fifteen 


(  122  ) 


Vi 


ri- 1 


yards  from  the  road.     When  we  came  opposite  to  them, 
they  fired  upon  us,  at  this  short  distance,  and  killed  my 
fellow  traveller,  yet  their  bullets  did  not  touch  me ;  but 
my  horse  making;  a  violent  start,  threw  me,  and  the  In- 
dians immediately  ran  up,  and  took  me  prisoner.     The 
one  that  laid  hold  on  me  was  Canasataugua,  the  other 
two  were  Delawares.     One  of  them  could  speak  English, 
and  asked  me  if  there  were  any  more  white  men  coming 
after?     I  told  them  not  any  near,  that  I  knew  of.     Two 
of  these  Indians  stood  by  me,  whilst  the  other  scalped 
my  comrade :  they  then  set  off  and  raij  at  a  smart  rate, 
through  the  woods,  for  about  fifteen  miles,  and  that 
night  we  Hlej)t  on  the  Allegheny  Mountain,  without  fire. 
The  next  morning  they  divided  the  last  of  their  pro- 
vision which  they  had  brought  from   F'ort  Du  Quesne, 
and  gave  me  an  c(\ui\\  share,  which  was  about  two  or 
three  ounces  of  mouldy  biscuit — this  and  a  young  Ground- 
Hog,  about  as  large  as  a  Rabbit,  roasted,  and  also  ecjually 
divided,  was  all  the  provision  we  had  until  we  came  to  the 
Loyal-Hannan,  which  was  about  fifty  miles;  and  a  great 
part  of  the  way  we  came  through  exceeding  rocky  Laurel 
thickets,  without  any  path.     When  we  came  to  the  west 
side  of  Laurel-llill,  they  gave  the  scalp  halloo,  as  usual, 
which  is  a  long  yell  or  halloo,  for  every  scalp  or  prisoner 
they  have  in  possession ;  the  last  of  these  scalp  halloos 
were  followed  with  quick  and  sudden  shrill  shouts  of 
joy  and  triumph.     On  their  performing  this,  we  were 
answered  by  the  firing  of  a  numl)erof  guns  on  the  Loyal- 
Hannan,  one  alter  another,  (juicker  than  one  could  count, 
by  another  party  of  Indians,  who  were  encamped  near 
where  Ligonier  now  stands.     As  we  advanced  near  this 
party,  they  increased  with  repeated  shouts  of  joy  and 
triumph  ;  but  I  did  not  share  with  them  in  their  excess- 


( 123 ) 


ive  mirth.  When  we  came  to  this  camp,  we  found  they 
had  plenty  of  Turkeys  and  other  meat  there ;  and  though 
I  never  before  eat  venison  without  bread  or  salt,  yet  as 
I  was  hungry,  it  relished  very  well.  There  we  lay  that 
night,  and  the  next  morning  the  whole  of  us  marched 
on  our  way  for  Fort  I)u  (iuesne.  The  night  after  we 
joined  another  camp  of  Indians,  with  nearly  the  same 
ceremony,  attended  with  great  noise,  and  ai)parent  joy 
among  all,  except  one.  The  next  morning  we  continued 
our  march,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  came  in  full  view 
of  the  fort,  which  stood  on  the  point,  near  where  Fort 
Pitt  now  stands.  We  then  made  a  halt  on  the  bank  of 
the  Allegheny,  and  repeated  the  scalp  halloo,  which  was 
answered  by  the  firing  of  all  the  firelocks  in  the  hands 
of  both  Indians  and  French  who  were  in  and  about  the 
fort,  in  the  aforesaid  manner,  and  also  the  great  guns, 
which  were  followed  by  the  continued  shouts  and  yells 
of  the  diii'erent  savage  tribes  who  were  then  collected 
there. 

As  I  was  at  this  time  unaccpiainted  with  this  mode  of 
firing  and  yelling  of  the  savages,  I  concluded  that  there 
were  thousands  of  Indians  there  ready  to  receive  General 
Braddock ;  but  what  added  to  my  surj)rize,  1  saw  num- 
bers running  towards  me,  stripped  naked,  excepting 
breech- clouts,  and  painted  in  the  most  hideous  manner, 
of  various  colors,  though  the  principal  color  was  ver- 
milion, or  a  bright  red;  yet  there  was  annexe<l  to  this, 
black,  brown,  blue,  Arc.  As  they  approached,  they  formed 
themselves  into  two  long  ranks,  about  two  or  three  roods 
apart.  I  was  told  by  an  Indian  that  could  speak  Kng- 
lish,  that  I  must  run  betwixt  these  ranks,  and  that  they 
would  tlog  me  all  the  way,  as  I  ran,  and  if  I  ran  quick, 
it  would  be  so  much  the  better,  as  they  would  (piit  when 


ill 


':V 


i'i 


f! 


V 


(  124  ) 

I  got  to  the  end  of  the  ranks.  There  appeared  to  be  a 
general  rejoicing  around  me,  yet,  I  could  find  nothing 
like  joy  in  my  breast;  but  I  started  to  the  race  with  all 
the  resolution  and  vigor  I  was  capable  of  exerting,  and 
found  that  it  was  as  I  had  been  told,  for  I  was  flogged 
the  whole  way.  When  I  had  got  near  the  end  of  the 
lines,  I  was  struck  with  something  that  appeared  to  me 
to  be  a  stick,  or  the  handle  of  a  tomahawk,  which  caused 
me  to  fall  to  the  ground.  On  my  recovering  my  senses, 
I  endeavoured  to  renew  my  race ;  but  as  I  arose,  some 
one  cast  sand  in  my  eyes,  which  blinded  me  so,  that  I 
could  not  see  where  to  run.  They  continued  beating 
me  most  intolerably,  until  I  was  at  length  insensible ; 
but  before  I  lost  my  senses,  I  remember  my  wishing 
them  to  strike  the  fatal  blow,  for  I  thought  they  intended 
killing  me,  but  apprehended  they  were  too  long  about  it. 

The  first  thing  I  remem})er  was  my  being  in  the  fort, 
amidst  the  French  and  Indians,  and  a  French  doctor 
standing  by  me,  who  had  opened  a  vein  in  my  left  arm ; 
after  which  the  interpreter  asked  me  how  I  did:  I  told 
him  I  felt  much  pain;  the  doctor  then  washed  my 
wounds,  and  the  bruised  places  of  my  body,  with  French 
brandy.  As  I  felt  faint,  and  the  brandy  smelt  well,  I 
asked  for  some  inwardly,  but  the  doctor  told  me,  by  the 
interpreter,  that  it  did  not  suit  my  case. 

When  they  found  I  could  speak,  a  number  of  Indians 
came  around  me,  and  examined  me,  with  threats  of 
cruel  death,  if  T  did  not  tell  the  truth.  The  first  ques- 
tion thev  asked  me,  was,  how  manv  men  were  there  in 
the  party  that  were  coming  from  Pennsylvania,  to  join 
Braddock  ?  I  told  them  the  truth,  that  there  were  three 
hundred.  The  next  question  was,  were  they  well  armed  ? 
I  told  them  they  were  all  well  armed,  (meaning  the  arm 


I 


(  125  ) 

of  flesh,)  for  they  had  only  about  thirty  guns  among  the 
whole  of  them  ;  which,  if  the  Indians  had  known,  they 
would  certainly  have  gone  and  cut  them  all  off;  there- 
fore, I  could  not  in  conscience  let  them  know  the  de- 
fenceless situation  of  these  road-cutters.  I  was  then 
sent  to  the  hospital,  and  carefully  attended  by  the  doc- 
tors, and  recovered  quicker  than  what  I  expected. 

Some  tin)e  after  1  was  there,  I  was  visited  by  the  Dela- 
ware Indian  already  mentioned,  who  was  at  the  taking 
of  me,  and  could  speak  some  English.  Though  he  spoke 
but  bad  P]nglish,  yet  I  found  him  to  be  a  man  of  con- 
siderable understanding.  I  asked  him  if  I  had  done 
any  thing  that  had  offended  the  Indians,  which  caused 
them  to  treat  me  so  unmercifully?  He  said  no,  it  was 
only  an  old  custom  the  Indians  had,  and  it  was  like 
how  do  you  do;  after  that,  he  said,  I  would  be  well  used. 
I  asked  him  if  I  should  be  permitted  to  remain  with  the 
French  ?  He  said  no — and  told  me,  that,  as  soon  as  I 
recovered,  I  must  not  only  go  with  the  Indians,  but 
must  be  made  an  Indian  myself.  I  asked  him  what 
news  from  Braddock's  army?  He  said,  the  Indians 
spied  them  every  day,  and  lia  showed  me  by  making 
marks  on  the  ground  with  a  stick,  that  Braddock's  army 
was  advancing  in  very  close  order,  and  that  the  Indians 
would  surround  them,  take  trees,  and  ( as  he  expressed 
it,)  shoot  inn  down  nil  one  pUjeon. 

Sliortly  after  tliis,  on  the  Dth  day  of  July,  175."),  in  the 
morning,  I  heard  a  great  stir  in  the  fort.  As  1  could  then 
walk  with  a  stall' in  my  hand,  1  went  out  of  the  door, 
v."aich  was  just  by  the  wall  of  the  fort,  and  stood  upon 
the  wall  and  viewed  the  Indians  in  a  huddle  before  the 
gate,  where  were  barrels  of  powder,  bullets,  ik.v.  and 
every  one  taking  what  suited;!  saw  the  Indians  also 


(  126  ) 


march  off  in  rank,  entire — likewise  the  French  Canadians, 
and  some  regulars.  After  viewing  the  Indians  and 
French  in  different  positions,  I  computed  them  to  be 
about  four  hundred,  and  wondered  that  they  attempted 
to  go  out  against  Braddock  with  so  small  a  party.  I 
was  then  in  high  hopes  that  I  would  soon  see  them  fly 
before  the  British  troops,  and  that  General  Braddock 
would  take  the  fort  and  rescue  me. 

I  remained  anxious  to  know  the  event  of  this  day ; 
and,  in  the  afternoon,  I  again  observed  a  great  noise  and 
commotion  in  the  fort,  and  though  at  that  time  I  could 
not  understand  French,  yet  I  found  that  it  was  the  voice 
of  joy  and  triumph,  and  feared  that  they  had  received 
what  I  called  bad  news. 

i  had  observed  some  of  the  old  country  soldiers  speak 
afi  I  spoke  Dutch,  I  went  to  one  of  them,  and 
..nil,  what  was  the  news?  fie  told  me  that  a 
luniif  I  li  ^  'st  arrived,  who  said  that  Braddock  would 
certainly  be  defeated  ;  that  the  Indians  and  French  had 
surrounded  him,  and  were  concealed  behind  trees  and 
in  gullies,  and  kept  a  constant  fire  upon  the  English, 
and  that  they  saw  the  English  falling  in  heaps,  and  if 
they  did  not  take  the  river  which  was  the  only  gap,  and 
make  their  escape,  there  would  not  be  one  man  left  alive 
before  sundown.  Some  time  after  this  I  heard  a  num- 
ber of  scalp  halloos,  and  saw  a  company  of  Indians  and 
French  coming  in.  I  observed  they  had  a  great  many 
bloody  scalps,  grenadiers'  ca])s,  British  canteens,  bayo- 
nets, ttc.  with  them.  They  brought  the  news  that  Brad- 
dock was  defeated.  After  that,  another  company  came 
in,  which  appeared  to  be  about  one  hundred,  and  chiefly 
Indians,  and  it  seemed  to  me  that  almost  every  one  of 
this  company   was  carrying  scalps ;  after    this   came 


Di;tAt 
askei 


• 


(  127) 

another  company  with  a  number  of  waggon  horses,  and 
also  a  great  many  scalps.  Those  that  were  coming  in, 
and  those  that  had  arrived,  kept  a  constant  firing  of 
small  arms,  and  also  the  great  guns  in  the  fort,  which 
were  accompanied  with  the  most  hideous  shouts  and 
yells  from  all  quarters ;  so  that  it  appeared  to  me  as  if 
the  infernal  regions  had  broken  loose. 

About  sundown  I  beheld  a  small  party  coming  in 
with  about  a  dozen  prisoners,  stripped  naked,  with  their 
hands  tied  behind  their  backs,  and  their  faces  and  i)art 
of  their  bodies  blacked — these  prisoners  they  burned  to 
death  on  the  bunk  of  Allegheny  river  opposite  to  the 
fort.  I  stood  on  the  fort  wall  until  I  beheld  them  begin 
to  burn  one  of  these  men;  they  had  him  tied  to  a  stake, 
and  kept  touching  him  with  firebrands,  red-hot  irons, 
&c.  and  he  screaming  in  a  most  doleful  manner, — the 
Indians  in  the  mean  time  yelling  like  infernal  spirits. 
As  this  scene  appeared  too  shocking  for  me  to  behold,  I 
retired  to  my  lodgings  both  sore  and  sorry. 

When  I  came  into  my  lodgings  I  saw  Russel's  Seven 
Sermons,  which  they  had  brought  from  the  field  of  bat- 
tle, which  a  Frenchman  made  a  })resent  of  to  me. 
From  the  best  information  I  could  receive,  there  were 
only  seven  Indians  and  four  French  killed  in  this  battle, 
and  five  hundred  British  lav  dead  in  the  field,  besides 
what  were  killed  in  the  river  on  their  retreat. 

The  morning  after  the  battle,  I  saw  Braddock's  artil- 
lery brought  into  the  fort;  the  same  day  I  also  saw 
several  Indians  in  British  officers'  dress,  with  sash,  half- 
moon,  laced  hats,  itc,  which  the  British  then  wore. 

A  few  davs  after  this  the  Indians  demanded  me,  and 
I  was  obliged  to  go  with  them.  I  was  not  well  al>le  to 
march,  but  they  took  me  in  a  canoe  up  the  Allegheny 


(  128  ) 


river,  to  an  Indian  town,  that  was  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river,  ahout  forty  miles  above  Fort  Du  Quesne. 
Here  I  remained  about  three  weeks,  and  was  then  taken 
to  an  Indian  town  on  the  west  branch  of  the  Muskin- 
gum, about  twenty  miles  above  the  forks,  which  was 
called  Tullihas,  inhabited  by  Delawares,  Caughnewagos 
and  Mohicans.  On  our  route  betwixt  the  aforesaid 
towns,  the  country  was  chiefly  l>lack-oak  and  white-oak 
land,  which  appeared  generally  to  be  good  wheat  land, 
chiefly  second  and  third  rate,  intermixed  with  some  rich 
bottoms. 

The  day  after  my  arrival  at  the  aforesaid  town,  a 
number  of  Indians  collected  about  me,  and  one  of  them 
began  to  pull  the  hair  out  of  my  head.  He  had  some 
ashes  on  a  piece  of  bark,  in  which  he  frequently  dipped 
his  fingers,  in  order  to  take  the  firmer  hold,  and  so  he 
went  on,  as  if  he  had  been  plucking  a  turkey,  until  he 
had  all  the  hair  clean  out  of  my  head,  except  a  small 
spot  about  three  or  four  inches  square  on  my  crown; 
this  they  cut  ofl'  with  a  pair  of  scissors,  excepting  three 
locks,  which  they  dressed  up  in  their  own  mode.  Two 
of  these  they  wrapped  round  with  a  narrow  beaded 
garter  made  by  themselves  for  that  purj^ose,  and  the 
other  they  plaited  at  full  length,  and  then  stuck  it  full 
of  silver  brooches.  After  they  bored  my  nose  and 
ears,  and  fixed  me  olf  with  ear-rings  and  nose  jewels; 
then  they  ordered  me  to  strip  off  my  clothes  and  put 
on  a  breech-clout,  which  I  did;  they  then  painted  my 
head,  face,  and  body,  in  various  colors.  They  put  a 
large  belt  of  wampum  on  my  neck,  and  silver  bands  on 
my  hands  and  right  arm ;  and  so  an  old  chief  led  me 
out  in  the  street,  and  gave  the  alarm  halloo,  coo-wigh, 
several  times  repeated  quick;  and  on  this,  all  that  were 


» 


(  129  ) 


in  the  town  came  runninj?  and  stood  round  the  old 
chief,  who  held  me  by  the  hand  in  the  midst.  As  I  at 
that  time  knew  nothing  of  their  mode  of  adoption,  and 
had  seen  them  put  to  death  all  they  had  taken,  an^  as 
I  never  could  find  that  they  saved  a  man  alive  at  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  I  made  no  doubt  but  they  were  about 
putting  me  to  death  in  some  cruel  manner.  The  old 
chief  holding  me  by  the  hand,  made  a  long  speech, 
verv  loud,  and  when  ho  had  done,  he  handed  me  to 
three  young  squaws,  who  led  me  l)y  the  hand  down  the 
bank,  into  the  river,  until  the  water  was  up  to  our 
middle.  The  squaw^s  then  made  signs  to  me  to  })lunge 
myself  into  the  water,  but  I  did  not  understand  theni; 
I  thought  that  the  result  of  the  council  was,  that  I 
should  be  drowned,  and  tiiat  these  young  ladies  were  to 
be  the  executioners.  They  all  three  laid  violent  hold  of 
me,  and  I  for  some  time  opposed  them  with  all  my 
might,  which  occasioned  loud  laughter  by  the  multitude 
that  were  on  the  bank  of  the  river.  At  length  one  of 
the  squaws  made  out  to  speak  a  little  English,  (for  I 
believe  they  began  to  be  afraid  of  me)  and  said,  no  hurt 
you;  on  this  I  gave  myself  up  to  their  ladyships,  who 
were  as  good  as  their  word ;  for  though  they  j)lunged 
me  under  water,  and  washed  and  rul)bed  me  severely,, 
yet  I  could  not  say  they  hurt  me  much. 

These  young  women  then  led  me  up  to  the  council 
house,  where  some  of  the  tribe  were  ready  with  new 
clothes  for  me.  They  gave  me  a  new  rulfled  shirt, 
which  I  put  on,  also  a  pair  of  leggins  done  off  with 
ribbons  and  beads,  likewise  a  pair  of  mockasons,  and  gar- 
ters dressed  with  l)eads,  porcupine  quills  and  red  hair — 
also  a  tinsel  laced  cappo.  They  again  painted  my  head 
and  face  with  various  colors,  and  tied  a  bunch  of  red 


i 

k 


m 


(  130  ) 

seated  ,„e  on  a  bear  skin  ,  "''  "^  ""'''^''-  They 
hart,  and  polecat  4  po;,rt,'''r.""  •••  P'"^  "'■""^ 
P^'cket  fashion,  and  "X'^w  ■''''•"'"  *'""^<' 
d^y  aunmch  leave..  ^2^^^  "''"'  ^'"'^^'^ioo,  or 

-a'«o  spunk,  flint  •a:d:^^''\rn?'  ''f  """--- 
the  Indians    came  in   dressed   ,„?  "'"'  '«"'*"', 

grandest  manner.    As  thev  .,  P'"""'''   '"  "'eir 

Beats,andforaoonsid  r.2;re''th"  """^  ^"""^  '"«" 
sdonce-every  one  was  smok  „      l        "''''  '''  l™''"""'! 
spoken  among  them.    AMen!?.^""'/?'  "  ""^^  «•"« 
-speech,  which  was  dehtetf  „  Tf'""'  "'"''''  '""'''■ 
and  was  as  followeth  J"M„  !    ""  '^^  ""  interpreter, 
«>"•  flesh,  and  bone  of  onr  i  ^"' ^? '"''' "o""  ««sh  of 
which  was  performed  this  d„r"    ^^  "'^  ■^^'^■nony 
Wood  was  washed  on   o  ,  o  J?'  ''""^  '^"'i>  "^  "hite 
the  Caughnewago  nat.on  TnV""!-' ^""  "'^  ""'™ '"to 
tribe;  you  are  adopted  iito^       T."  '"'»  "^  "'"'ike 
«ceived  with  great^erio:s,°e;s'::d     T"''  """^  "°- 
foomand  place  of  a  gre-,t  m,n    Z    '"'"'"""y  in  the 
this  day,  yo„  are  now  ^     of  u    f"  "'''"'  '"'^  P^^^^d 
and  custom-My  ,on    vln  1       ^  ■■"'  "'"J  **trong  h.w 
we  arc  now  unde"^-  tl  s  .n"  obM"  T'  """""«  '"fe-! 
and  defend  you,  that  w    «  e   f  rfT '^ '''™' ^"PP"' 
tberelore,  y„u  are  to  cons  der  '!"'  °"«  """ther; 

People."_AtthistimeIdWno   b'°r'"V'  ""'  "^  «" 
especially  that  of  the  wh  te  Idn  ^   "^'  ""''  "»"  «Peech, 

»-.■  but  since  that  ti  n  i  "a"  f  "!  "''^''^<'  »"'  " 
n.uch  sincerity  in  said  speed  ,  "."  "'''"  """^  was 
never  knew  them  to  n,ake  a^v  7  r''  '"""'  "'■■"  ''"y- 1 
and  themselves  in  any  reZt  w  "f  °"  ''^"^-""  ""^ 
them.  If  they  had  plenty  of'^cttT,""^'."""'  ^  '^^ 
we  were  scarce,  we  all  shared  one  fit?'     ^""^  P''^"'^'-'  '^ 


(  131  ) 


ir 


After  this  ceremony  was  over,  I  was  introduced  to  my 
new  kin,  and  told  that  I  was  to  attend  a  feast  that 
evening,  whicli  I  did.  And  as  the  custom  was,  they 
gave  me  also  a  bowl  and  wooden  spoon,  whicii  I  carried 
with  me  to  the  ])lace,  wliere  there  was  a  number  of  large 
brass  kettles  full  of  boiled  venison  and  green  corn; 
every  one  advanced  with  his  bowl  and  spoon,  and  had 
his  share  given  him. — After  this,  one  of  the  chiefs  made 
a  short  speech,  and  then  we  began  to  eat. 

The  name  of  one  of  the  chiefs  in  this  town  was  Tecan- 
y.iterighto,  »lias  Pluggy,  and  the  other  Asallecoa,  alias 
Mohawk  Solomon.  As  Pluggy  and  his  party  were  to 
start  the  next  day  to  war  to  the  frontiers  of  Virginia, 
the  next  thing  to  be  performed  was  the  war  dance,  and 
their  war  songs.  At  their  war  dance  they  had  both 
vocal  and  instrumental  music.  They  had  a  short  hollow 
gum,  close  in  one  end,  with  water  in  it,  and  parchment 
stretched  over  the  open  end  thereof,  which  they  l)oat 
with  one  stick,  and  made  a  sound  nearly  like  a  mullled 
drum, — all  those  who  were  going  on  this  expedition 
collected  together  and  formed.  An  old  Indian  then 
began  to  sing,  and  timed  the  music  by  beating  on  this 
drum,  as  the  ancients  formerly  timed  their  music  by 
beating  the  tabor.  On  this  the  warriors  began  to  ad- 
vance, or  move  forward  in  concert,  like  well  disciplined 
troops  would  march  to  the  fife  and  drum.  Each  war- 
rior had  a  tomahawk,  s])ear,  or  war-mallet  in  his  hand, 
and  they  all  moved  regularly  towards  the  east,  or  the 
way  they  intended  to  go  to  war.  At  length  they  all 
stretched  their  tomahawks  towards  the  Potoniack,  and 
giving  a  hideous  shout  or  yell,  they  whirled  (juick  about, 
and  danced  in  the  same  manner  back.  The  next  was 
the  war  song.     In  performing  this,  only  one  sung  at  a 


(  132  ) 


i 


i 


time,  in  a  moving  posture,  with  a  tomahawk  in  his 
hand,  while  all  the  other  warriors  were  engaged  in  calling 
aloud  he-iih,  he-uh,  which  they  constantly  repeated  while 
the  war  song  was  going  on.  When  the  warrior  tliat  was 
singing  had  ended  his  song,  he  struck  a  war-post  with 
his  tomahawk,  and  with  a  loud  voice  told  what  warlike 
exploits  he  had  done,  and  what  he  i  'ntended  to  do, 
which  were  answered  by  the  other  ..iriors  with  loud 
shouts  of  applause.  Some  who  had  not  before  intended 
to  go  to  the  war,  at  this  time  were  so  animated  by  this 
performance,  that  they  took  up  the  tomahawk  and  sung 
the  war  song,  which  was  answered  with  shouts  of  joy, 
as  they  were  then  initiated  into  the  present  marching 
company.  The  next  morning  this  company  all  collected 
at  one  place,  with  their  heads  and  faces  jiainted  with 
various  colors,  and  packs  upon  their  backs:  they 
marched  off  all  silent,  except  the  commander,  who,  in 
the  front,  sung  the  travelling  song,  wiiich  began  in  this 
manner:  hoo  caughtainte  heegana.  ?  t  as  the  rear 
passed  the  end  of  the  town,  they  be  o  lire  in  their 

slow  manner,  from  the  front  to  the  rear,  which  was  ac- 
acorapanied  with  shouts  and  yells  from  all  quarters. 

This  evening  I  was  invited  to  another  sort  of  dance, 
which  was  a  kind  of  promiscuous  dance.  The  young 
men  stood  in  one  rank,  and  the  young  women  in  another, 
about  one  rod  apart,  facing  each  other.  The  one  that 
raised  the  tune,  or  started  the  song,  held  a  small  gourd 
or  dry  shell  of  a  squash,  in  his  hand,  which  contained 
beads  or  small  stones,  which  rattled.  When  he  began 
to  sing, he  timed  the  tune  with  his  rattle;  both  men  and 
women  danced  and  sung  together,  advancing  towards 
each  other,  stooping  until  their  heads  would  be  touching 
together,  and  then  ceased  from  dancing,  with  loud  shouts, 


(  133  ) 


mg 


* 


and  retreated  and  formed  again,  and  so  repeated  the 
same  thing  over  and  over,  for  three  or  f^ur  hours,  with- 
out intermission.  This  exercise  appeared  to  me  at  first, 
irrational  and  insipid ;  but  I  found  that  in  singing  their 
tunes,  they  used  ya  ne  no  hoo  ivn  ne,  <Cc.  like  our  fa  sol 
la,  and  though  they  have  no  such  thing  as  jingling  verse, 
yet  they  can  intermix  sentences  with  their  notes,  and 
say  what  they  please  to  each  other,  and  carry  on  the 
tune  in  concert.  I  found  that  this  was  a  kind  of  wooing 
or  courting  dance,  and  as  they  advanced  stooping  with 
their  heads  together,  they  could  say  what  they  pleased 
in  each  other's  ear,  without  disconcerting  their  rough 
music,  and  the  others,  or  those  near,  not  hear  what  they 
said. 

Shortly  after  this  I  went  out  to  hunt,  in  company  with 
Mohawk  Solomon,  some  of  the  Caughnewagos,  and  a 
Delaware  Indian,  that  was  married  to  a  Caughnewngo 
squaw.  We  travelled  about  south  from  this  town,  and 
the  first  night  we  killed  nothing,  but  we  had  with  us 
green  corn,  which  we  roasted  and  ate  that  night.  The 
next  day  \  <'■  encamped  about  twelve  o'clock,  and  the 
hunters  turned  out  to  hunt,  and  I  went  down  the  run 
that  we  encamped  on,  in  company  with  some  squaws 
and  boys  to  hunt  plumbs,  which  we  found  in  great  plenty. 
On  my  return  to  camp  I  observed  a  large  piece  of  fat 
meat:  the  Delaware  Indian,  that  could  talk  some  Eng- 
lish, observed  me  looking  earnestly  at  this  meat,  and 
asked  me,  ivhat  meat  you  think  that  isf  I  said  I  supposed 
it  was  bear  meat;  he  laughed,  and  said,  ho,  all  one  fool 
you,  heal  now  elly  pool,  and  pointing  to  the  other  side  of 
the  camp,  he  said,  look  at  that  skin,  you  think  that  heal  skin  f 
I  went  and  lifted  the  skin,  which  appeared  like  an  ox 
hide:  he  then  said,  what  skin  you  think  that?     I  replied, 


(  134) 


that  I  thought  it  was  a  buffaloe  hide;  he  laughed,  and 
said,  you  fool  again,  you  knoiv  nothing,  you  think  buffaloe  that 
colo  f  I  acknowledged  I  did  not  know  much  about  these 
things,  and  told  him  I  never  saw  a  buffaloe,  and  that  I 
had  not  heard  what  color  they  were.  He  replied,  hy  and 
by  you  shall  see  gleat  many  buffaloe :  he  noiv  go  to  gleat  lick. 
That  skin  not  buffaloe  skin,  that  skin  buck  elk  skin.  They 
went  out  with  horses,  and  brought  in  the  remainder  of 
this  buck-elk,  which  was  the  fattest  creature  I  ever  saw 
of  the  tallow  kind. 

We  remamed  at  this  camp  about  eight  or  ten  days, 
and  killed  a  number  of  deer.  Though  we  had  neither 
bread  nor  salt  at  this  time,  yet  we  had  both  roast  and 
boiled  meat  in  great  plenty,  and  they  were  frequently 
inviting  me  to  eat,  when  I  had  no  appetite. 

We  then  moved  to  the  buffaloe  lick,  where  we  killed 
several  buffaloe,  and  in  their  small  brass  kettles  they 
made  about  half  a  bushel  of  salt.  I  su})pose  this  lick 
was  about  thirty  or  forty  miles  from  the  aforesaid  town, 
and  somewhere  between  the  Muskingum,  Ohio,  and 
Sciota.  About  the  lick  was  clear,  open  woods,  and  thin 
white-oak  land,  and  at  that  time  there  were  large  roads 
leading  to  the  lick,  like  waggon  roads.  We  moved  from 
this  lick  about  six  or  seven  miles,  and  encami)ed  on  a 
creek. 

Though  the  Indians  had  given  me  a  gun,  I  had  not 
yet  been  admitted  to  go  out  from  the  camp  to  hunt.  At 
this  })lace  Mohawk  Solomon  asked  me  to  go  out  with 
him  to  hunt,  which  I  readily  agreed  to.  After  some 
time  we  came  ujjon  some  fresh  buftaloe  tracks.  I  had 
observed  before  this  that  the  Indians  were  upon  their 
guard,  and  afraid  of  an  enemy;  for,  until  now,  they  and 
the  southern  nations  had  been  at  war.    As  we  were  fol- 


1 


(  135  ) 


lowing  the  bufTaloe  tracks,  Solomon  seemed  to  be  upon 
his  guard,  went  very  slow,  and  would  frequently  stand 
and  listen,  and  ai)peared  to  be  in  suspense.  We  came 
to  where  the  tracks  were  very  plain  in  the  sand,  and  I 
said,  it  is  surely  buffaloe  tracks;  he  said,  hush,  you  know 
nothing,  may  he  buffaloe  tracks,  may  he  Catawba.  He  went 
very  cautious  until  we  found  some  fresh  buffaloe  dung: 
he  then  smiled,  and  Siud,  Catawha  cannot  make  so.  He 
then  stopped  and  told  me  an  odd  story  about  the  Cataw- 
bas.  He  said,  that  formerly  the  Catawbas  came  near 
one  of  their  hunting  camps,  and  at  some  distance  from 
the  camp  lay  in  ambush ;  and  in  order  to  decoy  them 
out,  sent  two  or  three  Catiiwbas  in  the  night,  i)ast  their 
camp,  with  buffaloe  hoofs  fixed  on  their  feet,  so  as  to 
make  artificial  tracks.  In  the  morning,  those  in  the 
camp  followed  after  these  tracks,  thinking  they  were 
buffaloe,  until  they  were  fired  on  by  the  Catawbas,  and 
several  of  them  killed ;  the  others  fled,  collected  a  party 
and  jtursued  the  Catawbas;  but  they,  in  their  subtlety, 
brought  with  them  rattle-snake  poison,  which  tliey  had 
collected  from  the  bladder  that  lieth  at  the  root  of  the 
snakes'  teeth  ;  this  they  had  corked  up  in  a  short  piece 
of  a  cane  stalk ;  they  had  also  brought  with  them  small 
cane  or  reed,  about  the  size  of  a  rye  straw,  which  they 
made  sharp  at  the  end  like  a  f)en,  and  dipped  them  into 
this  poison,  and  stuck  them  in  the  ground  among  the 
grass,  along  their  own  tracks,  in  such  a  })osition  that 
they  might  stick  into  the  legs  of  the  pursuers,  which 
answered  the  design;  and  as  the  Catawbas  had  runners 
behind  to  watch  the  motion  of  tlie  pursuers,  when  they 
found  that  a  number  of  them  were  lame,  Iteing  artilically 
snake  bit,  and  that  they  were  all  turning  back,  the 
Catawbas  turned  upon  the  pursuers,  and  defeated  them, 


(  136) 


¥\ 


killed  and  scalped  all  those  that  were  lame. — When 
Solomon  had  finished  this  story,  and  found  that  I  un- 
derstood him,  concluded  by  saying,  you  don't  know,  Ca- 
tawba velly  had  Indian,  Catawba  all  one  devil  Catawba. 

Some  time  after  this,  I  was  told  to  take  the  dogs  with 
me,  and  go  down  tlie  creek,  perhaps  I  might  kill  a  tur- 
key ;  it  being  in  the  afternoon,  I  was  also  told  not  to  go 
far  from  the  creek,  and  to  come  up  the  creek  again  to 
the  camp,  and  to  take  care  not  to  get  lost.  When  I  had 
gone  some  distance  down  the  creek,  I  came  upon  fresh 
buffaloe  tracks,  and  as  I  had  a  number  of  dogs  with  me 
to  stop  the  ])ufraloe,  I  concluded  I  would  follow  after 
and  kill  one ;  and  as  the  grass  and  weeds  were  rank,  I 
could  readily  follow  the  track.  A  little  before  sundown 
I  despaired  of  coming  up  with  them:  I  was  then  think- 
ing how  I  might  get  to  camp  before  night :  I  concluded 
as  the  buflaloe  had  made  several  turns,  if  1  took  the  track 
back  to  the  creek,  it  would  be  dark  before  I  could  get 
to  camp;  therefore  I  thought  I  would  take  a  near 
way  through  the  hills,  and  strike  the  creek  a  little  below 
the  camp  ;  but  as  it  was  cloudy  weather,  and  I  a  very 
young  woodsman,  I  could  find  neither  creek  or  camp. 
When  night  came  on  I  fired  my  gun  several  times,  and 
hallooed,  but  could  have  no  answer.  The  next  morning 
early,  the  Indians  were  out  after  me,  and  as  I  had  with 
me  ten  or  a  dozen  dogs,  and  the  grass  and  weeds  rank, 
they  could  readily  follow  my  track.  When  they  came 
up  with  me,  they  appeared  to  be  in  a  very  good  humor. 
I  asked  Solomon  if  he  thought  I  was  running  away,  he 
said,  no,  no,  you  go  too  much  dooked.  On  my  return  to 
camp  they  took  my  gun  from  me,  and  for  this  rash  step 
1  was  reduced  to  a  bow  and  arrows,  for  near  two  years. 
We  were  out  on  this  lour  for  about  six  weeks. 


«.• 


(  137  ) 


*.' 


This  country  is  generally  hilly,  though  intermixed 
with  considerable  quantities  of  rich  upland,  and  some 
good  bottoms. 

When  we  returned  to  town,  Pluggy  and  his  i)arty  had 
arrived,  and  brought  with  them  a  considerable  number 
of  scalps  and  prisoners  from  the  south  branch  of  the 
Potomack :  they  also  brought  with  them  an  English 
Bible,  which  they  gave  to  a  Dutch  woman  who  was  a 
prisoner ;  but  as  she  could  not  read  English,  she  made 
a  prcisent  of  it  to  me,  which  was  very  acceptable. 

I  remained  in  this  town  until  sometime  in  October, 
when  my  adopted  brother,  culled  Tontileaugo,  who  had 
married  a  Wiandot  squaw,  took  me  with  him  to  Lake 
Erie.  We  proceeded  up  the  west  branch  of  Muskingum, 
and  for  some  distance  up  the  river  the  land  was  hilly, 
but  intermixed  with  large  bodies  of  tolerable  rich  up- 
land, and  excellent  bottoms.  We  proceeded  on  to  the 
head  waters  of  the  west  branch  of  Muskingum.  On  the 
head  waters  of  this  branch,  and  from  thence  to  the 
waters  of  Canesadooharie,  there  is  a  large  body  of  rich, 
well  lying  land — the  timber  is  ash,  walnut,  sugar-tree, 
buckeye,  honey-locust,  and  cherry,  intermixed  with 
some  oak,  hickory,  Arc.  This  tour  was  at  the  time  that  the 
black  haws  were  ripe,  and  we  were  seldom  out  of  sight  of 
them :  they  were  common  here  both  in  the  bottoms  and 
upland. 

On  this  route  we  had  no  horses  with  us,  and  when  we 
started  fiom  the  town,  all  the  i)ack  I  cairif  d  was  a  pouch, 
containing  my  books,  a  little  dried  venifcon,  and  my 
blanket.  I  had  then  no  gun,  but  Tontileaiigo,  who  was 
a  first  rate  hunter,  carried  a  ritle  gun,  and  every  day 
killed  deer,  racoons,  or  bears.  We  left  the  meat,  except- 
ing a  little  for  present  use,  and  carried  the  skins  with 


(  138  ) 


i> 


h  M 


US  until  we  encamped,  and  then  stretched  them  with 
elm  bark,  in  a  frame  made  with  poles  stuck  in  the  ground, 
and  tied  together  with  lynn  or  elm  bark ;  and  when  the 
skins  were  dried  by  the  fire,  we  packed  them  up,  and 
carried  them  with  us  the  next  day. 

As  Tontileaugo  could  not  speak  English,  I  had  to  make 
use  of  all  the  Caughnewaga  I  had  learned,  even  to  talk 
very  imperfectly  with  him  ;  but  I  found  I  learned  to 
talk  Indian  faster  this  way,  than  when  I  had  those  with 
me  who  could  speak  English. 

As  we  proceeded  down  the  Canesadooharie  waters,  our 
packs  encreased  by  the  skins  that  were  daily  killed,  and 
became  so  very  heavy  that  we  could  not  march  more 
than  eight  or  ten  miles  per  day.  We  came  to  Lake  Erie 
about  six  miles  west  of  the  mouth  of  Canesadooharie. 
As  the  wind  was  very  high  the  evening  we  came  to  the 
lake,  I  was  surprised  to  hear  the  roaring  of  the  water, 
and  see  the  high  waves  that  dashed  against  the  shore, 
like  the  ocean.  We  encamped  on  a  run  near  the  lake ; 
and  as  the  wind  fell  that  night,  the  next  morning  the 
lake  was  only  in  a  moderate  motion,  and  we  marched 
on  the  sand  along  the  side  of  the  water,  frequently  rest- 
ing ourselves,  as  we  were  heavy  laden.  I  saw  on  the 
strand  a  number  of  large  fish,  that  had  been  left  in  Hat 
or  hollow  places ;  as  the  wind  fell  and  the  waves  abated, 
they  were  left  without  water,  or  only  a  small  quantity; 
and  numbers  of  bald  and  grey  eagles,  iS^c.  were  along  the 
shore  devouring  them. 

Some  time  in  the  afternoon  we  came  to  a  large  camp 
of  Wiandots,  at  the  mouth  of  Canesadooharie,  where 
Tontileaugo's  wife  was.  Here  we  were  kindly  received : 
they  gave  us  a  kind  of  rough,  brown  i)otatoes,  which 
grew  spontaneously,  and  were  called  by  the  Caughne- 


(  139) 


le 
at 


he 

lip 
!re 
d: 
3h 
e- 


wagas  ohnenata.  These  potatoes  peeled  and  dipped  in 
racoons'  fat,  taste  nearly  like  our  sweet  potatoes.  They 
also  gave  us  what  they  call  caneheanta,  which  is  a  kind 
of  homony,  made  of  green  corn,  dried,  and  beans  mixed 
together. 

From  the  head  waters  of  Canesadooharie  to  this  place, 
the  land  is  generally  good  ;  chiefly  first  or  second  rate, 
and,  comparatively,  little  or  no  third  rate.  The  only 
refuse  is  some  swamps,  that  appear  to  be  too  wet  for  use, 
yet  I  apprehend  that  a  number  of  them,  if  drained, 
would  make  excellent  meadows.  The  timber  is  black 
oak,  walnut,  hickory,  cherr}',  black-ash,  white-ash,  water- 
ash,  buckeye,  black-locust,  honey-locust,  sugar-tree, 
and  elm:  there  is  also  some  land,  though,  compara- 
tively, but  small,  where  the  limber  is  chiefly  white  oak, 
or  beech — this  may  be  called  third  rate.  In  the  bottoms, 
and  also  many  places  in  the  upland,  there  is  a  large 
quantity  of  wild  apple,  plumb,  and  red  and  black  haw 
trees.  It  appeared  to  be  well  watered,  and  a  plenty  of 
meadow  ground,  intermixed  with  upland,  but  no  large 
prairies  or  glades,  that  I  saw  or  heard  of.  In  this  route, 
deer,  bear,  turkeys,  and  racoons,  appeared  plenty,  but 
no  bufftiloe,  and  very  little  sign  of  elk. 

We  continued  our  camp  at  the  mouth  of  Canesadoo- 
harie for  some  time,  where  we  killed  some  deer,  and  a 
great  many  racoons;  the  racoons  here  were  remarkably 
large  and  fat.  At  length  we  all  embarked  in  a  large 
birch  bark  canoe.  This  vessel  was  about  four  feet  wide, 
and  three  feet  deep,  and  almut  five  and  thirty  feet  long: 
and  though  it  could  carry  a  heavy  burden,  it  was  so  art- 
fully and  curiously  constructed,  that  four  men  could 
carry  it  several  miles,  or  from  one  landing  place  to 
another,  or  from  the  waters  of  the  Lake  to  the  waters  of 


'  'I 


1 


h 


(  140  ) 

the  Ohio.  We  proceeded  up  Canesadooharie  a  few  miles, 
and  went  on  shore  to  hunt;  but  to  my  great  surprise 
they  carried  the  vessel  that  we  all  came  in  up  the  bank, 
and  inverted  it  or  turned  the  bottom  up,  and  conveiled 
it  into  a  dwelling  house,  and  kindled  a  fire  before  us  to 
warm  ourselves  by  and  cook.  With  our  baggage  and 
ourselves  in  this  house  we  were  very  much  crowded,  yet 
our  little  house  turned  off  the  rain  very  well. 

We  kept  moving  and  hunting  up  this  river  until  we 
came  to  the  falls ;  here  we  remained  some  weeks,  and 
killed  a  num))er  of  deer,  several  bears,  and  a  great  many 
racoons.  From  the  mouth  of  this  river  to  the  falls  is 
about  five  and  twenty  miles.  On  our  passage  up  I  was 
not  much  out  from  the  river,  but  what  I  saw  was  good 
land,  and  not  hilly. 

About  the  falls  is  thin  chesnut  land,  which  is  almost 
the  only  chesnut  timber  I  ever  saw  in  this  country. 

While  we  remained  here,  I  left  my  pouch  with  my 
books  in  camp,  wrapt  up  in  my  blanket,  and  went  out 
to  hunt  chesnuts.  On  my  return  to  camp  my  books 
were  missing.  I  inquired  after  them,  and  asked  the  In- 
dians if  they  knew  where  they  were;  they  told  me  that 
they  supposed  the  puppies  had  carried  them  oft'.  I  did 
not  believe  them;  but  thought  they  were  displeased  at 
my  poring  over  my  books,  and  concluded  that  they 
had  destroyed  them,  or  put  them  out  of  my  way. 

After  this  I  was  again  out  after  nuts,  and  on  my  re- 
turn beheld  a  new  erection,  which  were  two  white  oak 
saplings,  that  were  forked  about  twelve  feet  high,  and 
stood  about  fifteen  feet  apart.  They  had  cut  these 
saplings  at  the  forks,  and  laid  a  strong  pole  across,  which 
api)eared  in  the  form  of  a  gallows,  ami  the  posts  they 
had  shaved  very  smooth,  and  painted  in  places  with  ver- 


(  141  ) 

milion.  I  could  not  conceive  the  use  of  this  piece  of 
work,  and  at  length  concluded  it  was  a  gallows.  I 
thought  that  I  had  displeased  them  by  reading  my  books, 
and  that  they  were  about  putting  me  to  death.  The 
next  morning  I  observed  them  bringing  their  skins  all 
to  this  place,  and  lianging  them  over  this  pole,  so  as  to 
preserve  them  from  being  injured  ])y  the  weather.  This 
removed  my  fears.  They  also  buried  ihvir  large  canoe 
in  the  ground,  which  is  the  way  they  took  to  preserve 
this  sort  of  a  canoe  in  the  winter  season. 

As  we  had  at  this  time  no  horses,  every  one  got  a  pack 
on  his  back,  and  we  steered  an  etist  course  about  twelve 
miles  and  encamped.  The  next  morning  we  proceeded 
on  the  same  course  about  ten  miles  to  a  largo  creek  that 
empties  into  Lake  Erie,  betwixt  Canosadooharie  and 
Cayahnga.  Here  they  made  their  winter  cabin  in  the 
following  form.  They  cut  logs  about  fifteen  feet  long,  and 
laid  these  logs  upon  each  other,  and  drove  posts  in  the 
ground  at  each  end  to  keep  them  together ;  the  i)0st8 
they  tied  togetlier  at  the  top  with  bark,  and  by  this 
means  raised  a  wall  fifteen  feet  long,  and  about  four 
feet  high,  and  in  the  same  manner  they  raised  another 
wall  opposite  to  this,  at  about  twelve  feet  distance ;  then 
they  drove  forks  in  the  ground  in  the  centre  of  each  end, 
and  laid  a  strong  pole  from  end  to  end  on  these  forks; 
and  from  these  walls  to  the  pole,  they  set  up  poles  in- 
stead of  rafters,  and  on  these  they  tied  small  poles  in 
place  of  laths;  and  a  cover  was  made  of  lynn  bark,  which 
will  run  even  in  the  winter  season. 

As  every  tree  will  not  run,  they  examine  the  tree  first, 
by  trying  it  near  the  ground,  and  when  they  find  it  will 
do,  they  fell  the  tree  and  raise  the  bark  with  the  toma- 
hawk, near  the  top  of  the  tree,  about  live  or  six  inches 


r 


H 


k 


I 


i 


(  142  ) 

broad,  then  put  the  tomahawk  handle  under  this  bark, 
and  pull  it  along  down  to  the  butt  of  the  tree ;  fo  that 
Bometimes  one  piece  of  bark  will  be  thirty  feet  long ;  this 
bark  they  cut  at  suitable  lengths  in  order  to  cover  the 
hut. 

At  the  end  of  these  walls  they  set  up  split  timber,  so 
that  they  had  timber  all  around,  excepting  a  door  at 
each  end.  At  the  top,  in  place  of  a  chimney,  they  left 
an  open  place,  and  for  bedding  they  laid  down  the  afore- 
said kind  of  bark,  on  which  they  spread  bear  skins. 
From  end  to  end  of  this  hut  along  the  middle  there 
were  fires,  which  the  squaws  made  of  dry  split  wood, 
and  the  holes  or  open  places  that  appeared,  the  squaws 
stopped  with  moss,  which  they  collected  from  old  logs ; 
and  at  the  door  they  hung  a  bear  skin ;  and  notwith- 
standing the  winters  are  hard  here,  our  lodging  was 
much  better  than  what  I  expected. 

It  was  some  time  in  December,  when  we  finished  this 
winter  cabin;  but  when  we  had  got  into  this  compara- 
tively fine  lodging,  another  difficulty  arose,  we  had  noth- 
ing to  eat.  While  I  was  travelling  with  Tontileaugo,  as 
was  before  mentioned,  and  had  plenty  of  fat  venison, 
bears  meat  and  racoons,  I  then  thought  it  was  hard 
living  without  bread  or  salt ;  but  now  I  began  to  con- 
clude, that  if  I  had  anything  that  would  banish  pinch- 
ing hunger,  and  keep  soul  and  body  together,  I  would 
be  content. 

While  the  hunters  were  all  out,  exerting  themselves 
to  the  utmost  of  their  ability,  the  squaws  and  boys  (in 
which  class  I  was,)  were  scattered  out  in  the  bottoms, 
hunting  red  haws,  black  haws,  and  hickor}'  nuts.  As 
it  was  too  late  in  the  year,  we  did  not  succeed  in  gather- 
ing haws;  but  we  had  tolerable  success  in  scratching 


was 


(  143  ) 

"ieSs Test  [r;.re::^"-,v"°"'  -•'•'^'^  -  - 

»"  return  the  hTnteTlZtiT    r'^''''''-    '^""^ 

hunter.,  and  thirteen  sou.,,!  L  "^  "'"""S  eight 
they  were  divided  with  ?hr  '  T'  "'"■  ='"'<'■•''" !  hut 
every  one  ,ot  thet^^u  j'hfr'"'  -^''""^ »■«>  J-"ce- 

one  /ee^rtd  :j;;;r,trr  '""'^''  °"'  »S-''  -<'  -^n-ed 

ThX''::t^tzr-  :z'S""'^,r-''"">-  ^-■ 

hearty  supper  and  breakfl;  '"  *'''™  "^  »"  " 

«n'iniy  load  wa,,  amoT  tl!e  ,e    i     "' "^'^'S"'''' 'hem, 

customedtocarryin"rfh,"wevT'^'''  ""'  ''^'"^  ae- 
and  told  them  my  load  wl  t!  ^K  ^"^  ''^•^eding  weary, 
of  it  and  eome  for  t   gaTn     rlt"""''/  '""^'  '^"^^  ?»« 

aughed  at  me,  and  tookpart  'f  ■;,':  t  d  ""'^  ""'  ""'^ 

toayoung,q„aw's,„.l,olndnrj  ^^u  .''  ""''  '"'''''d  it 

Thi8  kind  of  rei>roof  h,d  n         .      ^''^''"' "'  ^  """ied. 

»etoexertmysei;i;:I;„;\Xt^''T':^ '-«•"« 

f  they  had  whipped  me  IbrMzTn  t      tT'^  r"'"-  """^ 

^rs  held  a  couneil,  and  conolud  d  tha     r    "'  "'^  ''""■ 

horses  to  carry  their  loads-  -Zl.f,      '^  """"'  ^ave 

-evening,  i„elemen;'::L:-::tTe;r,l-- 

tol^rSr;:;::^  r;  r-v?-  ^ho  sho^d  g„ 

of  our  best  hunters  it'waV,  *'"''" ^  "^  '^  >-  oL 
him  at  this  winter  eamp  to  povM  f  "f'"'"^  '"  '''»™ 
oWdren;  it  was  agreed  upon^hat  t'  !-^  "'"  ''''"''"^  ""'l 
others  should  stay,  and  ^^1]  «?."-'"'  "'"'  "^--oe 
war.  "  ""'"•  and  the  other  four  go  to 


(  144) 

They  then  began  to  go  through  their  common  cere- 
mony. They  sung  their  war  songs,  danced  their  war 
dances,  &c.  And  when  they  were  equipped,  they  went 
off  singing  their  marching  song,  and  firing  their  guns. 
Our  cam  J)  appeared  to  be  rejoicing ;  but  I  was  grieved  to 
think  that  some  innocent  persons  would  be  murdered 
not  thinking  of  danger. 

After  the  departure  of  these  warriors  we  had  hard 
times ;  and  though  we  were  not  altogether  out  of  pro- 
visions, we  were  brought  to  short  allowance.  At  length 
Tontileaugo  had  considerable  success,  and  we  had  meat 
brought  into  camp  sufficient  to  last  ten  days.  Tonti- 
leaugo then  took  me  with  him  in  order  to  encamp  some 
distance  from  this  winter  cabin,  to  try  his  luck  there. 
We  carried  no  provision  with  us;  he  said  he  would  leave 
what  was  there  for  the  squaws  and  children,  and  that 
we  could  shift  for  ourselves.  We  steered  about  a  south 
course  up  the  waters  of  this  creek,  and  encamped  about 
ten  or  twelve  miles  from  the  winter  cabin.  As  it  was 
still  cold  weather  and  a  crust  upon  the  snow,  which 
made  a  noise  as  we  walked  and  alarmed  the  deer,  we 
could  kill  nothing,  and  consequently  went  to  sleep  with- 
out supper.  The  only  chance  we  had,  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, was  to  hunt  bear  holes;  as  the  bears  about 
Christmas  search  out  a  winter  lodging  place,  where  they 
lie  about  three  or  four  months  without  eating  or  drink- 
ing. This  may  appear  to  some  incredible;  but  it  is  now 
well  known  to  be  the  case,  by  those  who  live  in  the  re- 
mote western  parts  of  North  America. 

The  next  morrhig  early  we  proceeded  on,  and  when 
we  found  a  tree  scratched  by  the  bears  climbing  up,  and 
the  hole  in  the  tree  sufficiently  large  for  the  reception 
of  the  bear,  we  then  fell  a  sapling  or  small  tree,  against 


=3:c 


(  145  ) 


Iwhen 
and 
)tion 
lainst 


or  near  the  hole;  and  it  was  my  business  to  climb  up 
and  drive  out  the  bear,  while  Tontileaugo  stood  ready 
with  his  gun  and  bow.  We  went  on  in  this  manner 
until  evening,  without  success;  at  length  we  found  a 
large  elm  scratched,  and  a  hole  in  it  about  forty  feet  up; 
but  no  tree  nigh,  suitable  to  lodge  against  the  hole. 
Tontileaugo  got  a  long  pole  and  some  dry  rotten  wood, 
which  he  tied  in  bunches  with  bark;  and  as  there  was  a 
tree  that  grew  near  the  elm,  and  extended  up  near  the 
hole,  but  leaned  the  wrong  way,  fo  that  we  could  not 
lodge  it  to  advantage ;  to  remedy  this  inconvenience,  he 
climbed  up  this  tree  and  carried  with  him  his  rotten 
wood,  fire  and  pole.  The  rotten  wood  he  tied  to  his  belt, 
and  to  one  end  of  the  pole  he  tied  a  hook,  and  a  j)iece 
of  rotten  wood  which  he  set  fire  to,  as  it  would  retain 
fire  almost  like  spunk,  and  reached  this  hook  from  limb 
to  limb  as  he  went  up;  when  he  got  U]),  with  this  pole 
he  put  dry  wood  on  fire  into  the  hole ;  after  he  j)ut  in 
the  fire  he  heard  the  bear  snutf,  and  he  came  speedily 
down,  took  his  gun  in  his  hand,  and  waited  until  the 
bear  would  come  out ;  but  it  was  some  time  before  it  ap- 
peared, and  when  it  did  appear,  he  attempted  taking 
sight  with  his  rifle;  but  it  being  then  too  dark  to  see  the 
sights,  he  set  it  down  by  a  tree,  and  instantly  bent  his 
bow,  took  hold  of  an  arrow,  and  shot  the  bear  a  little 
behind  the  shoulder;  I  was  preparing  also  to  shoot  an 
arrow,  but  he  called  to  me  to  stop,  there  was  no  occa- 
sion; and  with  that  the  bear  fell  to  the  ground. 

Being  very  hungry  we  kindled  a  fire,  opened  the  bear, 
took  out  the  liver,  and  wrai)ped  some  of  the  caul  fat 
round,  and  put  it  on  a  wooden  spit,  which  we  stuck  in 
the  ground  by  the  fire  to  roast ;  we  then  skinned  the 
bear,  got  on  our  kettle,  and  had  both  roast  and  boiled, 


"X 


u 


(  146  ) 
and  also  sauce  to  our  niMt  .,i  •  ._ 
delicate  fare.    After  I  ^Zf.  T"^  "''P^^'^'^  to  me  to  be 

Tontileaugoawoko  me   •  ,  "!''  ''^''"'''  '  "^"t  to  sleep 
got^nieat  plenty  n,,^'    '  '"^'  ^^^  «"  hearty,  „■«  have 

bark'l"J''lX^'"«  ;^  ™t  *'""■"  «  b-nn  tree,  peeled 

«"«',  wi,h  a  large  log  ""etwivt ,         T'  ''"'"«  "-e  south- 

™-lo  a  fiood  fire  before  ZldVlt  n''  ',"•'">--';  -e 

at  one  side.     When  we  hTd  fi"l  !f '''°''  ""  °"^  ™eat 

o-t  to  hunt,  searched  two  ree  't^  ""'  ";''""  "''  "«"' 

pose.    As  the  snow  thawerl  .1  »i         "''''  '""  '»  ■>»  Pur- 

The  next  day  we  turned  0!*?^,^  ""' ""'"""mp- 
camp  we  found  a  tree  weU  so,aLL^?'' •'*"''  "^"  ">« 
above  forty  feet  h,Vh  ami  '"-f""^;  but  the  hole  was 

against  the  hole;  ^tZtiT,  'ZT'"'  ^""''^  '»"«' 
we  concluded  that  we  would  cut  dl       ^^^^  '"'^  '""'°'^' 
tomahawks,  which  kentn    ,       """  *'"'  '"•««  "ith  our 
of  the  day.     When  ZZ^^^^'"!  '  ^"-Oerable  par 
w.th  n-s  „un  and  bow,  and  1^1;:!  V'"'  ''-'"-'■go 
Tont.I,,,ugo  shot  the  bear  thr™  !f     L?'"  ""-"^y  bent, 
behind  the  shoulders;  I  also  shof  l"'!'?  "'^  ""^' ''  ""le 
not  beingthen  much'accustone  d  t    ,^°  '^''  '"'"'<'•  ""d 
arrow  penetrated  onlv  a  few  "  "'"  ''">'''"es«,  my 

Having  kille.l an  old  s^h^bt::;::  "'"'■="■  '"^  -^kin"^ 
her  on  the  snow  to  the  camp  'md  onT  T^'f' '""  ''^'"'-^d 
wards,  to  get  wood,  make  a  L        ?    ^  '""'  '™e  after- 
Early  the  next  morntn;  w'  ^nT  t'  f "  '"'"^«  ^"k- 
several  trees,  but  found  °nobra,s     "o"""^''' ^''"•"'ed 
we  took  three  racoons  out  of  a  h"  i„     ",  °"  >™>'  borne 
the  ground.  "'  '' '"'"««'  elm,  not  far  from 

killl!?r'"f""'"'*'''''''''«""woweeI.- 

killed  four  bears,  three  deers.se-.     ,  '""  "'"e 

-">      ■  «■  num- 


led 
ne 
)m 

ne 


(  147  ) 

ber  of  racoons.  We  packed  as  much  meat  as  we 
could  carry,  and  returned  to  our  winter  cabin.  On  our 
arrival,  there  was  great  joy,  as  they  were  all  in  a  starv- 
ing condition, — the  three  hunters  that  we  had  left  hav- 
ing killed  but  very  little.  All  that  could  carry  a  pack, 
repaired  to  our  camp  to  bring  in  meat. 

Some  time  in  February  the  four  warriors  returned, 
who  had  taken  two  scalps,  and  six  horses  from  the  fron- 
tiers of  Pennsyslvania.  The  hunters  could  then  scatter 
out  a  considerable  distance  from  the  winter  cal)in,  and 
encamp,  kill  meat  and  bring  it  in  upon  horses;  so  that 
we  commonly  after  ihis  had  plenty  of  provision. 

In  this  mcmth  we  began  to  mnke  sugar.  As  some  of 
the  elm  bark  will  strip  at  this  season,  the  squaws,  after 
finding  a  tree  that  would  do,  cut  it  down,  and  with  a 
crooked  stick,  broad  and  sharp  at  the  end,  took  the  bark 
off  the  tree,  and  of  this  bark  made  vessels  in  a  curious 
manner,  that  would  hold  about  two  gallons  each  :  they 
made  above  one  hundred  of  these  kinds  of  vessels.  In 
the  sugar-tree  they  cut  a  notch,  sloping  down,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  notch,  stuck  in  a  tomahawk;  in  the  place 
where  they  stuck  the  tomahawk,  they  drove  a  hmgchip, 
in  order  to  carry  the  water  out  from  the  tree,  and  under 
this  they  set  their  vessel,  to  receive  it.  As  sugar-trees 
were  plenty  and  large  here,  they  seldom  or  never  notched 
a  tree  that  was  not  two  or  three  feet  over.  They  also 
made  bark  vessels  for  carrying  the  water,  that  would 
hold  about  four  gallons  each.  They  had  two  brass  ket- 
tles, that  held  about  fifteen  gallons  each,  and  other 
smaller  kettles  in  which  they  boiled  the  water.  But  as 
they  could  not  at  all  times  boil  away  the  water  as  fast  as 
it  was  collected,  they  made  vessels  of  bark,  that  would 
hold  about  one  hundred  gallons  each,  for  retaining  the 


'- 


(  148  ) 

water;  and  though  the  sugar-trees  did  not  run  every  day, 
they  had  always  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  to  keep 
them  boiling  during  the  whole  sugar  season. 

The  way  that  we  commonly  used  our  sugar  while  en- 
camped, was  by  putting  it  in  bears  fat  until  the  fat  was 
almost  as  sweet  as  the  sugar  itself,  and  in  this  we  dipped 
our  roasted  venison.  About  this  time  some  of  the  In- 
dian lads  and  lAyself,  were  employed  in  making  and  at- 
tending traps  for  catching  racoons,  foxes,  wild  cats,  &c. 

As  the  racoon  is  a  kind  of  water  animal,  that  frequents 
the  runs,  or  small  water-courses,  almost  the  whole  night, 
we  made  our  traps  on  the  runs,  by  laying  one  small  sap- 
ling on  another,  and  driving  in  posts  to  keep  them  from 
rolling.  The  upper  sapling  we  raised  about  eighteen 
inches,  and  set  so,  that  on  the  racoons  touching  a  string, 
or  small  piece  of  bark,  the  sapling  would  fall  and  kill  it; 
and  lest  the  racoon  should  pass  by,  we  laid  brush  on 
both  sides  of  the  run,  only  leaving  the  channel  open. 

The  fox  traps  we  made  nearly  in  the  same  manner,  at 
the  end  of  a  hollow  log,  or  opposite  to  a  hole  at  the  root 
of  a  tree,  and  put  venison  on  a  stick  for  bait ;  we  had  it 
so  set  that  when  the  fox  took  hold  of  the  meat,  the  trap 
fell.  While  the  squaws  were  employed  in  making  sugar, 
the  boys  and  men  were  engaged  in  hunting  and  trap- 
ping. 

About  the  latter  end  of  March,  we  began  to  prepare 
for  moving  into  town,  in  order  tp  plant  corn,  the 
squaws  were  then  frying  the  last  of  their  bears  fat,  and 
making  vessels  to  hold  it ;  the  vessels  were  made  of  deer 
skins,  which  were  skinned  by  pulling  the  skin  off  the 
neck,  without  ripping.  After  they  had  taken  off  the 
hair,  they  gathered  it  in  small  plaits  round  the  neck  and 
with  a  string  drew  it  together  like  a  purse ;  in  the  centre 


iSm 


aiiiKi 


(  149) 

a  pin  was  put,  below  which  they  tied  a  string,  and  while 
it  was  wet  they  blew  it  up  like  a  bladder,  and  let  it  re- 
main in  this  manner  until  it  was  dry,  when  it  appeared 
nearly  in  the  shape  of  a  sugar  loaf,  but  more  rounding 
at  the  lower  end.  One  of  these  vessels  would  hold  about 
four  or  five  gallons ;  in  these  vessels  it  was  they  carried 
their  bears  oil. 

When  all  things  were  ready,  we  moved  back  to  the 
falls  of  Canesadooharie.  In  this  route  the  land  is  chiefly 
first  and  second  rate;  but  too  much  meadow  ground,  in 
proportion  to  the  upland.  The  timber  is  white-ash,  elm, 
black-oak,  cherry,  buckeye,  sugar-tree,  lynn,  mulberry, 
beech,  white-oak,  hickory,  wild  apple-tree,  red-haw,  black 
haw,  and  spicewood  bushes.  There  is  in  some  places, 
spots  of  l^eech  timber,  which  spots  may  be  called  third 
rate  land.  Buckeye,  sugar-tree  and  spicewood,  are  com- 
mon in  the  woods  here.  There  is,  in  some  places,  large 
swamps  too  wet  for  any  use. 

On  our  arrival  at  the  falls,  (as  we  had  brought  with  us 
on  horse  back,  about  two  hundred  weight  of  sugar,  a  large 
quantity  of  bears  oil,  skins,  &c.)  the  canoe  we  had 
buried  was  not  sufficient  to  carry  all ;  therefore  we  were 
obliged  to  make  another  of  elm  bark.  While  we  lay 
here,  a  young  Wiandot  found  my  books :  on  this  they 
collected  together;  I  was  a  little  way  from  the  camp, 
and  saw  the  collection,  but  did  not  know  what  it  meant. 
They  called  me  by  my  Indian  name,  which  was  Scoouwa, 
repeatedly.  I  ran  to  see  what  was  the  matter;  they 
showed  me  my  books,  and  said  they  were  glad  they  had 
been  found,  for  they  knew  I  was  grieved  at  the  loss  of 
them,  and  that  they  now  rejoiced  with  me  because  they 
were  found.  As  I  could  then  speak  some  Indian,  es- 
pecially Caughnewaga,  (for  both  that  and  the  Wiandot 


(  150  ) 

tongue  were  spoken  in  this  camp,)  I  told  them  that  I 
thanked  them  for  the  kindness  they  had  always  shown  to 
me,  and  also  for  finding  my  books.  They  asked  if  the 
books  were  much  damaged?  I  told  them  not  much.  They 
then  showed  me  how  they  lay,  which  was  in  the  best 
manner  to  turn  off  the  water.  In  a  deer  skin  pouch 
they  lay  all  winter.  The  print  was  not  much  injured, 
though  the  binding  was.  This  was  the  first  time  that  I 
felt  my  heart  warm  toward  the  Indians.  Though  they 
had  been  exceedingly  kind  to  me,  I  still  before  detested 
them,  on  account  of  the  barbarity  I  beheld  after  Brad- 
dock's  defeat.  Neither  had  I  ever  before  pretended  kind- 
ness, or  expressed  myself  in  a  friendly  manner;  ])ut  I 
began  now  to  excuse  the  Indians  on  account  of  their 
want  of  information. 

When  we  were  ready  to  embark,  Tontileaugo  would 
not  go  to  town,  but  go  up  the  river  and  take  a  hunt. 
He  asked  me  if  I  choosed  to  go  with  him?  I  told  him 
I  did.  We  then  got  some  sugar,  bears  oil  bottled  up  in 
bears  gut,  and  some  dry  venison,  which  we  packed  up, 
and  went  up  Canesadooharie,  about  thirty  miles,  and 
encamped.  At  this  time  I  did  not  know  either  the  day 
of  the  week,  or  the  month  ;  but  I  supposed  it  to  be  about 
the  first  of  April.  We  had  considerable  success  in  our 
business.  We  also  found  some  stray  horses,  or  a  horse, 
mare,  and  a  young  colt;  and  though  they  had  run  in 
the  woods  all  winter,  they  were  in  exceeding  good  order. 
There  is  plenty  of  grass  here  all  winter,  under  the  snow, 
and  horses  accustomed  to  the  woods  can  work  it  out. 
These  horses  had  run  in  the  woods  until  they  were  very 
wild. 

Tontileaugo  one  night  concluded  that  we  must  run 
them  down.     I  told  him  I  thought  we  could  not  ac- 


i 


(  151  ) 


; 


complish  it.  He  said  he  had  run  down  bears,  buffaloes 
and  elks ;  and  in  the  great  plains,  with  only  a  small 
snow  on  the  ground,  he  had  run  down  a  deer ;  and  he 
thought  that  in  one  whole  day,  he  could  tire,  or  run 
down  any  four-footed  animal  except  a  wolf.  I  told  him 
that  though  a  deer  was  the  swiftest  animal  to  run  a 
short  distance,  yet  it  would  tire  sooner  than  a  horse. 
He  said  he  would  at  all  events  try  the  experiment.  He 
had  heard  the  Wiandots  say,  that  I  could  run  well,  and 
now  he  would  see  whether  I  could  or  not.  I  told  him 
that  I  never  had  run  all  day,  and  of  course  was  not  ac- 
customed to  that  way  of  running.  I  never  had  run 
with  the  Wiandot-i,  more  than  seven  or  eight  miles  at 
one  time.  He  said  that  was  notliing,  we  must  either 
catch  these  horses,  or  run  all  day. 

In  the  morning  early  we  left  camp,  and  about  sun- 
rise we  started  after  them,  stripped  naked  excepting 
breech-clouts  and  mockasons.  About  ten  o'clock  I  lost 
sight  of  both  Tontileaugo  and  the  horses,  and  did  not 
see  them  again  until  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
As  the  horses  run  all  day,  in  about  three  or  four  miles 
square,  at  length  they  passed  where  I  was,  and  I  fell  in 
close  after  them.  As  I  then  had  a  long  rest,  I  endea- 
voured to  keep  ahead  of  Tontileaugo,  and  after  sjome 
time  I  could  hear  him  after  me  calling  chakoli,  chukoa- 
naugh,  which  signifies,  pull  away  or  do  your  best.  We 
pursued  on,  and  after  some  time  Tontileaugo  passed  ine, 
and  about  an  hour  before  sundown,  we  despaired  of 
catching  these  horses,  and  returned  to  camp  where  we 
had  left  our  clothes. 

I  reminded  Tontileaugo  of  what  I  had  told  him;  he 
replied  he  did  not  know  what  horses  could  do.  Tliey 
are  wonderful  strong  to  run;  but  withal  we  made  tliem 


(  152  ) 

very  tired.  Tontileaugo  then  concluded,  he  would  do  as 
the  Indians  did  with  wild  horses,  when  out  at  war: 
which  is  to  shoot  them  through  the  neck  under  the  mane, 
and  above  the  bone,  which  will  cause  them  to  fall  and 
lie  until  they  can  halter  them,  and  then  they  recover 
again.  This  he  attempted  to  do;  but  as  the  mare  was 
very  wild,  he  could  not  get  sufficiently  nigh  to  shoot 
her  in  the  proper  place;  however  he  shot,  the  ball  passed 
too  low,  and  killed  her.  As  the  horse  and  colt  stayed  at 
this  place,  we  caught  the  horse  and  took  him  and  the 
colt  with  us  to  camp. 

We  stayed  at  this  camp  about  two  weeks,  and  killed 
a  number  of  bears,  racoons,  and  some  beavers.  We 
made  a  canoe  of  elm  bark,  and  Tontileaugo  embarked 
init.  He  arrived  at  the  falls  that  night:  whilst  I,  mounted 
on  horseback,  with  a  bear  skin  saddle,  and  bark  stirrups, 
proceeded  by  land  to  the  falls :  I  came  there  the  next 
morning,  and  we  carried  our  canoe  and  loading  past  the 
falls. 

The  river  is  very  rapid  for  some  distance  above  the 
falls,  which  are  about  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  nearly  per- 
pendicular. This  river  called  Canesadooharie,  interlocks 
with  the  West  Branch  of  Muskingum,  runs  nearly  a 
north  course,  and  empties  into  the  south  side  of  Lake 
Erie,  about  eight  miles  east  from  Sandusky,  or  betwixt 
Sandusky  and  Cayahaga. 

On  this  last  route  the  land  is  nearly  the  same  as  that 
last  described,  only  there  is  not  so  much  swampy  or 
wet  ground. 

We  again  proceeded  toward  the  lake,  I  on  horseback, 
and  Tontileaugo  by  water.  Here  the  land  is  generally 
good,  but  I  found  some  difficulty  in  getting  round 
swamps  and      nds.     When  we  came  to  the  lake,  I  pro- 


I 


?'!l';ai';i«Ci«v^T^'r,Ti»*i.-^)*<»  jMS»ev 


t 


I 


(  153  ) 

ceeded  along  the  strand,  and  Tontileaugo  near  the 
shore,  sometimes  paddling,  and  sometimes  polling  his 
canoe  along. 

After  some  time  the  wind  arose,  and  he  went  into  the 
mouth  of  a  small  creek  and  encamped.  Here  we  staid 
several  days  on  account  of  high  wind,  which  raised  the 
lake  in  great  billows.  While  we  were  here,  Tontileaugo 
went  out  to  hunt,  and  when  he  was  gone,  a  Wiandot 
came  to  our  camp ;  I  gave  him  a  shoulder  of  venison 
which  I  had  by  the  fire,  well  roasted,  and  he  received  it 
gladly,  told  me  he  was  hungry,  and  thanked  me  for  my 
kindness.  When  Tontileaugo  came  home,  I  told  him 
that  a  Wiandot  had  been  at  camp,  and  that  I  gave  him 
a  shoulder  of  venison:  he  said  that  was  very  well,  and 
I  suppose  you  gave  him  also  sugar  and  bears  oil,  to  eat 
with  his  venison.  I  told  him  I  did  not;  as  the  sugar 
and  bears  oil  was  down  in  the  canoe,  I  did  not  go  for 
it.  He  rei)lied,  you  have  behaved  just  like  a  Dutch- 
man.* Do  you  not  know  that  when  strangers  come  to 
our  camp,  we  ought  always  to  give  them  the  best  that 
we  have.  I  acknowledged  that  1  was  wrong.  He  said 
that  he  could  excuse  this  as  I  was  but  young;  but  I 
must  learn  to  behave  like  a  warrior,  and  do  great  things, 
and  never  be  found  in  any  such  little  actions. 

The  lake  being  again  calm,t  we  proceeded,  and  arrived 
safe  at  Sunyeiideand,  which  was  a  Wiandot  town,  that 
lay  upon  a  small  creek  which  empties  into  the  Little 
Lake  below  the  mouth  of  Sandusky. 

The  town  was  about  eighty  rood  above  the  mouth  of 
the  creek,  on  the  south  side  of  a  large  plain,  on  which 

*The  Dutch  he  called  Skoharehaugo,  which  took  its  derivation 
from  a  Dutch  settlement  called  Skoharey. 

fThe  lake,  when  calm,  appears  to  be  of  a  sky  blue  colour;  though 
when  lifted  in  a  vessel,  it  is  like  other  clear  water. 


)• 


r 


Vi 


(  154) 

timber  grew,  and  nothing  more  but  grass  or  nettles. 
In  some  places  there  were  large  flats,  where  nothing 
but  grass  grew,  about  three  feet  high  when  grown,  and 
in  other  places  nothing  but  nettles,  very  rank,  where 
the  soil  is  extremely  rich  and  loose — here  they  planted 
corn.  In  this  town  there  were  also  French  traders,  who 
purchased  our  skins  and  fur,  and  we  all  got  new  clothes, 
paint,  tobacco,  &c. 

After  I  had  got  my  new  clothes,  and  my  head  done 
off  like  a  red-headed  wood-pecker,  I,  in  company  with 
a  number  of  young  Indians,  went  down  to  the  corn  field 
to  see  the  squaws  at  work.  When  we  came  there,  they 
asked  me  to  take  a  hoe,  which  I  did,  and  hoed  for  some 
time.  The  squaws  applauded  me  as  a  good  hand  at  the 
business ;  but  when  I  returned  to  the  town,  the  old  men 
hearing  of  what  I  had  done,  chid  me,  and  said  that  I 
was  adopted  in  the  place  of  a  great  man,  and  must  not 
hoe  corn  like  a  squaw.  They  never  had  occasion  to 
reprove  me  for  any  thing  like  this  again ;  as  I  never 
was  extremely  fond  of  work,  I  readily  complied  with 
their  orders. 

As  the  Indians  on  their  return  from  their  winter 
hunt,  bring  in  with  them  large  quantities  of  bears  oil, 
sugar,  dried  venison,  &c.  at  this  time  they  have  plenty, 
and  do  not  spare  eating  or  giving — thus  they  make 
away  with  their  provision  as  quick  as  possible.  They 
have  no  such  thing  as  regular  meals,  breakfa'^t,  dinner, 
or  supper;  but  if  any  one,  even  the  town  folks,  would 
go  to  the  same  house  several  times  in  one  day,  he  would 
be  invited  to  eat  of  tlie  best — and  with  them  it  is  bad 
manners  to  retiise  to  eat  when  it  is  offered.  If  they 
will  not  eat,  it  is  interpreted  as  a  symptom  of  displeas- 
ure, or  that  the  persons  refusing  to  eat,  were  angry  with 
those  who  invited  them. 


< 


;V^trK!!*. . 


(155) 

At  this  time  homony,  plentifully  mixed  with  bears 
oil  and  sugar,  or  dried  venison,  bears  oil  and  sugar,  is 
what  they  offer  to  every  one  who  comes  in  any  time  of 
the  day ;  and  so  they  go  on  until  their  sugar,  bears  oil  and 
venison  is  all  gone,  and  then  they  have  to  eat  homony 
by  itself,  without  bread,  salt,  or  any  thing  else;  yet,  still 
they  invite  every  one  that  comes  in,  to  eat  whilst  they 
have  any  thing  to  give.  It  is  thought  a  shame  not  to 
invite  people  to  eat,  while  they  have  any  thing;  but  if 
they  can,  in  truth,  only  say,  we  have  got  nothing  to  eat, 
this  is  accepted  as  an  honorable  apology.  All  the 
hunters  and  warriors  continued  in  town  about  six  weeks 
after  we  came  in:  they  spent  this  time  in  painting, 
going  from  house  to  house,  eating,  smoking,  and  playing 
at  a  game  resembling  dice,  or  hustle-cap.  They  put  a 
number' of  plumb-stones  in  a  small  bowl;  one  side  of 
each  stone  is  black,  and  the  other  white ;  they  then 
shake  or  hustle  the  bowl,  calling,  hits,  hits,  hits,  honesey, 
honesey,  rago,  rago ;  which  signifies  calling  for  white  or 
black,  or  what  they  wish  to  turn  up;  they  then  turn 
the  bowl,  and  count  the  whites  and  blacks.  Some  were 
beating  their  kind  of  drum,  and  singing;  others  were 
employed  in  playing  on  a  sort  of  flute,  made  of  hollow 
cane;  and  others  playing  on  the  jews-harp.  Some  part 
of  this  time  was  also  taken  up  in  attending  the  council 
house,  where  the  chiefs,  and  as  many  others  as  chose, 
attended ;  and  at  night  they  were  frequently  employed 
in  singing  and  dancing.  Towards  the  last  of  this  time, 
which  was  in  June,  1756,  they  were  all  engaged  in  pre- 
paring to  go  to  war  against  the  frontiers  of  Virginia: 
when  they  were  equipped,  they  went  through  their 
ceremonies,  sung  their  war  songs,  ifcc.  They  all  marched 
off,  from  fifteen  to  sixty  years  of  age ;  and  some  boys, 


(  156  ) 
^^^y  twelve  years  niw  ,. 

»d  -o„s,i„rw:i'u:::;t'r "'"'  ""■■'  '-'- 

town  but  squaws  and  chiJdre;  .        . ""'"'  "^'"^  '<'''' '" 

"■«,'ne  ti,ey  know  for  the  sea  tL^' ,"'""'' ''  •••"  'he 
'h'«  hope,  beeause,  at  this  tin^  T.  "' '°"'' ^''^^'^'of 
"'together  unaequa  n.ed  wfth  "  '  T  ^"'™^»«  were 
^equently  very  unfit  to  117  1  7  '''"''' """  -"" 
™';tle  enemies  as  the  I,ZL  "  ^""'^  "'*'"  ^"''h 
Indians  aslce,!  me  if  IniTlJ'''''-      ''"'"'  '»'o  old 

f"Kl™d,  which  thev  "dd  !,;'  .^"r"'"'  "■"*=<'?'  New 
I  told  then,  I  thouX  nof.  hf  -1  '"'''' ''"  ""  ""'es. 
f"'ve  them  all  out  onh  -m^oum""    "''^  ''''''  "''-^"dv 

^-rf  -'»to  the  great  valJbXxuir'r' ,''"''  ^"'^"^ 
■mountain,  fron>   Potomac  to  J.'     ^  ^""'"""^  ^outh 

considerable  part  of  the  best  hndT'v""""'  ''*'''^  '^  » 
and  Pennsylvania,  and  tin  the    'f,^"-«""".  Maryland, 
t°  them  like  fools     they  c„u,d  1  "•  t  ^"'''''^  ""P-^^^d 
«"'Pri.e,  run,  or  %ht.  ^C     th  ^^"  •'^""'^  "K^'n^t 
reasons  for  sayins  thnt  fl,  '        '  ,    "^  ^'''"''  ""re  their 
They  asked  m'e  tf^fl     my™f  -"«'-  the  white^ 
told  me  to  speak  my  mi„,  ZT^" '">   7  opinion,  and 
wh.te  people  to  the  East  we  e  verv  "''™  """  the 

trees,  and  though  they  appeared!^  r""™"^'  '""^  "'^ 
they  were  not  acquainted  with  the      ""  '°  ''"  '■"°'^>  «» 
hey  were  not  fools;  therefore  afte''  "'"^  °^  ""'  ^^' 
iearn  your  n.ode  of  war  and  t^V        "'  """•  ""'J'  "i" 
defend  themselves.    I "  'Z,  T"  ^''"'  ""^  »'  '«a«t 
selves  did  not  believe  they  could  e      "  ""  "«"  "'-"" 

ey  could  conquer  America,  yet 


_:-:..*!.     % 


(  157  ) 

they  were  willing  to  propagate  the  idea,  in  order  to 
encourage  the  young  men  to  go  to  war. 

When  the  warriors  left  this  town,  we  had  neither  meat, 
sugar,  or  bears  oil  left.  All  that  we  had  then  to  live  on 
was  corn  pounded  into  coarse  meal  or  small  homony — 
this  they  boiled  in  water,  which  appeared  like  well 
thickened  soup,  without  salt  or  any  thing  else.  For 
some  time  we  had  plenty  of  this  kind  of  homony ;  at 
lengtli  we  were  brought  to  very  short  allowance,  and  as 
the  warriors  did  not  return  as  soon  as  they  expected,  we 
were  in  a  starving  condition,  and  but  one  gun  in  the 
town,  and  very  little  amunition.  The  old  lame  Wian- 
dot  concluded  that  he  would  go  a  hunting  in  a  canoe, 
and  take  me  with  him,  and  try  to  kill  deer  in  the  water 
as  it  was  then  watering  time.  We  went  up  Sandusky  a 
few  miles,  then  turned  up  a  creek  and  encamped.  We 
had  lights  prepared,  as  we  were  to  hunt  in  the  night, 
and  also  a  piece  of  bark  and  some  bushes  set  up  in  the 
canoe,  in  order  to  conceal  ourselves  from  the  deer.  A 
little  boy  that  was  with  us  held  the  light;  I  worked  the 
canoe,  and  the  old  man,  who  had  his  gun  loaded  with 
large  shot,  when  he  came  near  the  deer,  fired,  and  in  this 
manner  killed  three  deer  in  part  of  one  night.  We  went 
to  our  fire,  ate  heartily,  and  in  the  morning  returned  to 
town,  in  order  to  relieve  the  hungry  and  distressed. 

When  we  came  to  town,  the  children  were  crying  bit- 
terly on  account  of  pinching  hunger.  We  delivered  what 
we  had  taken,  and  though  it  was  but  little  among  so 
many,  it  was  divided  according  to  the  strictest  rules  of 
justice.  We  immediately  set  out  for  another  hunt,  but 
before  we  returned  a  part  of  the  warriors  had  come  in, 
and  brought  with  them  on  horseback  a  quantity  of  meat. 
These  warriors  had  divided  into  different  parties,  and 


I 


'(:, 


/ 


(  158) 

all  struck  at  different  places  in  Augusta  county.  They 
brought  in  with  them  a  considerable  number  of  scalps, 
prisoners,  horses,  and  other  plunder.  One  of  the  parties 
brought  in  with  them  one  Arthur  Campbell,  that  is  now 
Col.  Campbell,  who  lives  on  Holston  river,  near  the 
Royal-Onk.  As  the  Wiandot'^,  at  Sunyendeand,  and 
those  at  Detroit,  were  connected,  Mr.  Campbell  was  taken 
to  Detroit ;  but  he  remained  some  time  with  me  in  this 
town  ;  his  company  was  very  agreeable,  and  I  was  sorry 
when  he  left  me.  During  his  stay  at  Sunyendeand  he 
borrowed  my  Bible,  and  made  some  pertinent  remarks 
on  what  he  had  read.  One  passage  where  it  is  said,  "It 
is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth." 
He  said  we  ought  to  be  resigned  to  the  will  of  Provi- 
dence, as  we  were  now  bearing  the  yoke  in  our  youth. 
Mr.  Campbell  appeared  to  be  then  about  IG  or  17  years 
of  age. 

There  was  a  number  of  prisoners  brought  in  by  these 
parties,  and  when  they  were  to  run  the  gauntlet,  I  went 
and  told  them  how  they  were  to  act.  One  John  Savage 
was  brought  in,  a  middle  aged  man,  or  about  forty  years 
old.  He  was  to  run  the  gauntlet.  I  told  him  what  he 
had  to  do  ;  and  after  this  I  fell  into  one  of  the  ranks  with 
the  Indians,  shouting  and  yelling  like  them ;  and  as  they 
were  not  very  severe  on  him,  as  he  passed  me,  I  hit  him 
with  a  piece  of  a  pumpkin — which  pleased  the  Indians 
much,  but  hurt  my  feelings. 

About  the  time  that  these  warriors  came  in,  the  green 
corn  was  beginning  to  be  of  use,  so  that  we  had  either 
green  corn  or  venison,  and  sometimes  both — which  was, 
comparatively,  high  living.  When  we  could  have  plenty 
of  green  corn,  or  roasting  ears,  the  hunters  became  lazy, 
and  spent  their  time,  as  already  mentioned,  in  singing 


XtMM 


'*<* 


-jrv.. 


(  159) 
and  dancinff  Sro     tk^ 

ove,  peace,  and  friendship  o^^ttrj;!""'!  f"  ''^'"^^ 
th'8  respect,  they  shame  those  ;h''rf''""'''P"*^«-  I« 
In  this  nmnner  we  lived  unU7n7,'''''  Christianity. 
«wanB,  ducks,  cranes,  *cc"me  1        -"*'"'' ^^•■•^^' 
"lighted  on  this  little  Lke  .^uL  *'"  '""^^'  «»d 

enable.    Sunyendeand      a VrmarTu  ""'"''  <"•  "">"»■ 
the  spring,  and  fo„]  both  tnTe  fo.f    /'"^^  '"'  ^^^  '" 
As  our  liunters  »„,.„        V?         ""  ""<!  spring 

oftheirownrdTrrcr  ;f '"^--dfond 
fowhng,  and  in  this  cou~'  t  ■'  "  '  ""'""^  ""»  to 
we  had  now  plenty  of  hcn^^y^^lf  "'  T"'''  '"  ">«t 
anu  sometimes,  as  a  raritv  T  .  ,  "  '"''*  "f  fcwls- 
of  Indian  corn  mea^  ^o"  fded  „  1  "  ""''^  ^-"d  -nade 
w.th  hoi,  ,  beans,  a'^,  h^kel  n  c'ZTS''''f'  "'''^^^ 

Th.s  with  us  was  called  good  livt     .? "■  "'<'='»''*■«• 
to  our  H  roasted,  and  boifed  ve^^""'    'T^''  ""*  ''I"'" 
the  woods  in  the  fall;  or  boars  m.t'    If"  "''^  "'^"''o 

--or  .gar,   hears  Oil,  r;1-t.,t:^r^ 

fp.Xrjeio-^S'utr'-r''--- 

S^rthti-rdS'F'-^^^^^^^ 

■nethe  liberty  of  chLsing  I  tl\  7"' ""'' «■'-« 
tached  to  Tontileaugo-haJ'neve  =  u"""  ^  ""•«  at- 
therefore  asked  some  timr,  ^'"'"  '"'«  hefore  and 

-e  that  the  ,art^: ::;^^:^  "^  "'-    He'  ^Id' 


V 


n 


(160) 

occasion,  and  he  told  me  that  our  old  brother  Tecaugh- 
retanego,  (  which  was  his  name)  was  a  chief,  and  a  bet- 
ter man  than  he  was;  and  if  I  went  with  him  I  might 
expect  to  be  well  used,  but  he  said  I  might  do  as  I 
pleased ;  and  if  I  staid  he  would  use  me  as  he  had  done. 
I  told  him  that  he  had  acted  in  every  respect  as  a  brother 
to  me ;  yet  I  was  much  pleased  with  my  old  brother's 
conduct  and  conversation ;  and  as  he  was  going  to  a  part 
of  the  country  I  had  never  been  in,  I  wished  to  go  with 
him — he  said  that  he  was  perfectly  willing. 

I  then  went  with  Tecaughretanego  to  the  mouth  of 
the  little  lake,  where  he  met  with  the  company  he  in. 
tended  going  with,  which  wns  composed  of  Caughnewa. 
gas  and  Ottawas.  Here  I  was  introduced  to  a  Caugh- 
newaga  sister,  and  others  I  had  never  before  seen.  My 
sister's  name  was  Mary,  which  they  pronounced  Maully. 
I  asked  Tecaughretanego  how  it  came  that  she  had  an 
English  name ;  he  said  that  he  did  not  know  that  it  was 
an  English  name ;  but  it  was  the  name  the  priest  gave 
her  when  she  was  baptized,  which  he  said  was  the  name 
of  the  mother  of  Jesus.  He  said  there  were  a  great 
many  of  the  Caughnewagas  and  Wiandots,  that  were  a 
kind  of  half  Roman  Catholics ;  but  as  for  himself,  he 
said,  that  the  priest  and  him  could  not  agree,  as  they 
held  notions  that  contradicted  both  sense  and  reason, 
and  had  the  assurance  to  tell  him,  that  the  book  of  God 
taught  them  these  foolish  absurdities ;  but  he  could  not 
believe  the  great  and  good  Spirit  ever  taught  them  any 
such  nonsense;  and  therefore  he  concluded  that  the  In- 
dians' old  religion  was  better  than  this  new  way  of  wor- 
shipping God. 

The  Ottawas  have  a  very  useful  kind  of  tents  which 
they  carry  with  them,  made  of  flags,  plaited  and  stitched 


\ 


taem 


memm 


(  161  ) 

together  in  a  very  artful  manner,  so  as  to  turn  the  rain 
or  wind  well, — each  mat  is  made  fifteen  feet  long  and 
about  five  feet  broad.  In  order  to  erect  this  kind  of  tent, 
they  cuta  number  of  long  strait  poles,  which  they  drive  in 
the  ground,  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  leaning  inwards;  then 
they  .spread  the  mats  on  these  poles,  beginning  at  the 
bottom  and  extending  up,  leaving  only  a  hole  in  the  top 
uncovered — and  this  hole  answers  the  place  of  a  chim- 
ney. They  make  fire  of  dry,  split  wood,  in  the  middle, 
and  spread  down  bark  mats  and  skins  for  bedding,  on 
which  they  sleep  in  a  crooked  posture,  all  round  the  fire, 
as  the  length  of  their  beds  will  not  admit  of  stretching 
themselves.  In  place  of  a  door  they  lift  up  one  end  of 
a  mat  and  creep  in,  and  let  the  mat  fall  down  behind 
them. 

These  tents  are  warm  and  dry,  and  tolerable  clear  of 
smoke.  Their  lumber  they  keep  under  birch-bark 
canoes,  which  they  carry  out  and  turn  up  for  a  shelter, 
where  they  keep  every  thing  from  the  rain.  Nothing  is 
in  the  tents  but  themselves  and  their  bedding. 

This  company  had  four  birch  canoes  and  four  tents. 
We  were  kindly  received,  and  they  gave  us  plenty  of 
homony,  and  wild  fowl,  boiled  and  roasted.  As  the  geese, 
ducks,  swans,  &:c.  here  are  well  grain-fed,  they  were  re- 
markably fat,  especially  the  green  necked  ducks.  The 
wild  fowl  here  feed  upon  a  kind  of  wild  rice  that  grows 
spontaneously  in  the  shallow  water,  or  wet  places  along 
the  sides  or  in  the  corners  of  the  lakes. 

As  the  wind  was  high  and  we  could  not  proceed  on 
our  voyage,  we  remained  here  several  days,  and  killed 
abundance  of  wild  fowl,  and  a  number  of  racoons. 

When  a  company  of  Indians  are  moving  together  on 
the  lake,  as  it  is  at  this  time  of  the  year  often  dangerous 

K 


{; 


■I. 


i\ 


.t.rf 


(  162) 

sailing,  the  old  men  hold  a  council;  and  when  they  agree 
to  ennbark,  every  one  is  engaged  immediately  in  making 
ready,  without  offering  one  word  against  the  measure, 
though  the  lake  may  be  l)oisterous  and  horrid.  One 
morning,  tho'the  wind  appeared  to  me  to  be  as  high 
as  in  days  past,  and  the  billows  raging,  yet  the  call  was 
given  yoltoli-yolioh,  which  was  quickly  answered  by  all — 
ooh-ooh  which  signifies  agreed.  We  were  all  instantly 
engaged  in  preparing  to  start,  and  had  considerable  dif- 
ficulties in  embarking. 

As  soon  as  wc  got  into  our  canoes  we  fell  to  paddling 
with  all  our  might,  making  out  from  the  shore.  Though 
these  sort  of  canoes  ride  waves  beyond  what  could  be  ex- 
pected, yet  the  water  seve -al  times  dashed  into  them. 
When  we  got  out  about  half  a  mile  from  shore,  we  hoisted 
sail,  and  as  it  was  nearly  a  west  wind,  we  then  seemed 
to  ride  the  waves  with  ease,  and  went  on  at  a  rapid  rate. 
We  then  all  laid  down  our  })addles,  excepting  one  that 
steered,  and  there  was  no  water  dashed  into  our  canoes, 
until  we  came  near  the  shore  again.  We  sailed  about 
sixty  miles  that  day,  and  encamped  some  time  before 
night. 

The  next  day  we  again  embarked  and  went  on  very 
well  for  some  time  ;  but  the  lake  being  l)oist(;rous,  and 
the  wind  not  fair,  we  were  obliged  to  make  to  shore, 
which  we  acconiplished  with  hard  work  and  some  ditli- 
culty  in  landing. — The  next  morning  a  council  was  held 
by  the  old  n:en. 

As  we  had  this  day  to  pass  by  a  long  precipice  of 
rocks,  on  the  shore  about  nine  miles,  Aiiich  rendered  it 
im{)Ossible  for  us  to  land,  though  tiie  wind  was  higii  and 
the  lake  rough  :  yet,  as  it  was  fair,  we  were  all  ordered 
to  embark.     We  wrought  ourselves  out  from  the  shore 


■  I'KHWWMJigrVJ*  V^i^ 


(  1C3) 


of 

it 

Ud 

}d 

ire 


and  lioistcd  sail,  (  what  we  used  in  place  of  sail  cloth 
were  our  tent  mats,  which  answered  the  i)]aoe  very 
well,)  and  went  on  for  some  time  with  a  fair  wind,  until 
we  were  opposite  to  the  precipice,  and  then  it  turned  to- 
wards the  shore,  and  we  bou;an  to  fear  we  should  he  cast 
upon  the  rocks.  Two  of  the  canoes  were  considerably 
farther  out  from  the  rocks,  than  the  canoe  I  was  in. 
Those  who  were  farthest  out  in  the  lake  did  not  let  down 
their  sails  until  they  had  passed  the  preci})ice  ;  but  as 
we  were  nearer  the  rock,  we  were  olili^'cd  to  lower  our 
sails,  and  paddle  with  all  our  might.  With  much  difli- 
culty  we  cleanMl  ourselves  of  the  rock,  and  landed.  As 
the  other  canoe  had  landed  before  us,  tl'cre  were  imme- 
diately runners  sent  oil"  to  see  if  we  were  .'11  safely  landed. 

This  night  the  wind  fell,  and  the  next  morning  the 
lake  was  tolerably  calm,  and  we  embarked  without  dif- 
ficulty, and  paddled  along  near  the  shore,  until  we  came 
to  the  mouth  of  Cayahaga,  which  empties  into  Lake 
Erie  on  the  south  side,  betwixt  Canesadooharie  and 
Prescj'  Isle. 

We  turned  up  ("ayahaga  and  encamped — where  we 
stayed  and  hunted  for  several  days;  and  so  we  kept 
moving  and  hunting  until  \\v.  came  t(>  the  forks  of 
Cayahaga. 

This  is  a  ';ery  gentle  river,  and  but  few  rillles,  or 
swift  running  places,  from  the  mouth  to  the  forks.  Deer 
here  wt-re  tolerably  plenty,  large  and  fat;  but  bear  and 
other  game  scarce.  Theuj)land  is  hilly,  and  j»rineipally 
second  and  third  rate  land.  The  timber  chielly  black- 
oak,  white-oak,  hickory,  dogwood,  Arc.  The  Ijottoms 
are  rich  and  large,  and  tin;  tindxr  is  walnut,  locust,  nnd- 
berry,  sugar-tree,  red-haw,  black-haw,  wild-apphtrecs, 
i'jc.     The  West  Hranch  of  this  river  interlocks  with  the 


^ 


(  1B4  ) 


i: 


East  Branch  of  the  Muskingum  ;  and  the  East  Branch 
^ith  the  Big  Beaver  creek,  that  empties  into  the  Ohio 
about  thirty  miles  below  Pittsburgh. 

From  the  forks  of  C'ayahaga  to  the  East  Branch  of 
Muskingum,  there  is  a  carrying  place,  where  the  Indians 
carry  their  canoes,  Arc.  from  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie, 
into  the  waters  of  the  Ohio. 

From  the  forks  I  went  over  with  some  hunters,  to  the 
East  Branch  of  Muskingum,  where  they  killed  several 
deer,  a  number  of  beavers,  and  returned  heavy  laden, 
with  skins  and  meat,  which  we  carried  on  our  backs,  as 
we  had  no  horses. 

The  land  here  is  chiefly  second  and  third  rate,  and 
the  timber  chielly  oak  and  hickory.  A  little  above  the 
forks,  on  the  East  Branch  of  Cayahaga,  are  considerable 
irapids,  very  rocky  for  some  distance;  but  no  perpen- 
dicular falls. 

About  the  first  of  December,  1756,  we  were  preparing 
for  leaving  the  river :  we  buried  our  canoes, and  as  usual 
hung  up  our  skins  and  every  one  had  a  pack  to  carr}': 
the  scpiaws  also  packed  up  their  tents,  wliich  they  car- 
ried in  larg(^  rolls,  that  extended  up  above  their  heads ; 
and  though  a  great  bulk,  yet  not  heavy.  We  steered 
about  a  south  east  course,  and  could  not  march  over  ten 
miles  per  day.  At  night  we  lodged  in  our  Hag  tents, 
which  when  erected,  were  nearly  in  the  shape  of  a  sugar 
loaf,  and  about  fifteen  feet  diameter  at  the  ground. 

In  this  manner  we  })roceeded  al)out  forty  luih's,  and 
wintered  in  these  tents,  on  the  waters  of  Jk'aver  cri  A, 
near  a  little  lake  or  pond,  which  is  about  two  miles  long, 
and  one  l>road,  and  a  remarkable  place  for  b.^aver. 

It  is  a  received  oj>inion  among  the  Indians,  that  the 
geese  turn  to  beavers,  and  the  snakes  to  racoons;  and 


■* 


■l:^mM,>'JA..M»>t 


(  165  ) 


carry : 
jcy  car- 
Ihoads ; 
Istcered 

ver  ten 
t  tents, 
la  sugar 

1(1. 

|rs,  and 
crt  k, 
'H  long, 
r. 

liat  the 
is;  and 


though  Tecaughretanego,  who  was  a  wise  man,  was  not 
fully  persuaded  that  this  was  true,  3'et  he  seemed  in  some 
measure  to  be  carried  away  with  this  whimsical  notion. 
He  said  that  this  pond  had  been  always  a  plentiful  })lace 
of  beaver.  Though  he  said  he  kjiew  them  to  l)e  fre- 
quently all  killed,  (as  he  thought,)  yet  the  next  winter 
they  would  l)e  as  })lenty  a?i  ever.  And  as  the  beaver 
was  an  animal  that  did  not  trav(4  by  land,  and  there 
being  no  water  communication  to  or  from  this  pond — 
how  could  such  a  numl)er  of  beavers  getthere  year  after 
year?  But  as  this  pond  was  also  a  cousideraltle  ])lace 
for  geese,  when  they  came  in  the  fall  from  the  north,, 
and  nlighted  in  this  pond,  they  turned  beavers,  all  but 
the  feet,  which  remained  nearly  the  same. 

I  said,  that  though  there  was  no  water  communication, 
in,  or  out  of  this  pond  ;  yet  it  apj)eared  that  it  was  fed  l)y 
springs,  as  it  was  always  clear,  and  never  stagnated :  and  jis 
a  very  large  si)ring  rose  al)out  a  mile  below  this  ])ond, 
it  was  likely  that  this  spring  came  from  this  pond. — In 
the  fall,  when  this  spring  is  comparatively  low,  there 
would  be  air  under  ground  sullicient  for  the  beavers  to 
breathe  in,  with  their  heads  above  water,  for  they  can- 
not live  long  under  water,  and  so  tliey  might  have  a 
subterraneous  passage  |by  water  into  this  j)on(l. — Te- 
caughretanego  granted  that  it  might  be  so. 

Al)out  the  sides  of  this  pond  there  grew  great  abund- 
ance of  cranberries,  \vhich  the  Indians  gathered  up  on 
the  ice,  when  the  pond  was  fro/en  over.  These  berries 
were  about  as  large  as  rillebulUts — of  abrightredeolom' 
— an  agreeable  sour,  though  rather  too  sour  of  them- 
selves; l)Ut  when  mixed  with  sugar,  had  a  very  iigree- 
able  taste. 


C  166  ) 


In  conversation  with  Tecaughretanego,  I  happened  to 
be  talking  of  the  ])eavers'  catcliing  fish.  He  asked  me 
why  I  thought  that  the  beaver  caught  fish?  I  told  him 
that  I  had  read  of  the  beaver  making  dams  for  the  con- 
veniency  of  fishing.  He  laughed,  and  made  game  of 
me  and  my  book.  He  said  the  man  that  wrote  that  book 
knew  nothing  about  the  beaver.  The  beaver  never  did 
eat  flesh  of  any  kind;  but  lived  on  the  bark  of  trees, 
roots,  and  other  vegctaliles. 

In  order  to  know  certainly  how  this  was,  when  we 
killed  a  beaver  I  carefully  examined  the  intestines,  but 
found  no  appearance  of  fish  ;  I  afterwards  made  an  ex- 
periment on  a  pet  beaver  which  we  had,  and  found  that 
it  woukl  neither  eat  fish  nor  flesh;  therefore  I  acknowl- 
edged that  the  book  that  I  had  read  was  wrong. 

I  asked  him  if  the  beaver  was  an  amphibious  animal, 
or  if  it  could  live  under  water?  He  said  that  the  beaver 
was  a  kind  of  sul)terraneous  water  animal,  that  lives  in 
or  near  the  water?  but  they  were  no  more  aniphi])ious 
than  the  ducks  and  geese  were — which  was  constantly 
proven  to  be  the  case,  as  all  the  beavers  that  are  caught 
in  steel  traps  are  drowned,  i)r()vided  the  trap  be  heavy 
enough  to  keep  them  under  water.  As  the  beaver  does 
not  eat  fish,  I  in(piired  of  Tecaughretanego  why  the 
beaver  made  such  large  dams?  He  said  they  were  of 
use  to  them  in  various  respects — both  for  their  safety 
and  food.  For  their  safety,  as  by  raising  the  water  over 
the  mouths  of  their  lioles,  or  subterraneous  lodging 
places,  they  could  not  be  easily  found ;  and  as  the  beaver 
feeds  chiefly  on  the  bark  of  trees,  l)y  raising  the  water 
over  the  banks,  they  can  cut  down  saplings  for  bark  to 
leed  uj)on  without  going  out  much  u})on  the  land:  and 
when  they  are  obliged  to  go  out  on  land  for  this  food, 


■^l ■m'?"!.«>wi««JTg:< 


(  167  ) 


pn^ 
Iver 
iter 
to 
jnd 
kd, 


they  freciuently  are  caught  by  the  wolves.  As  the  beaver 
can  run  upon  land  l)ut  little  faster  than  a  water  tortoise, 
and  is  no  fighting  animal,  if  they  are  any  distance  from 
the  water,  they  become  an  easy  prey  to  their  enemies. 

I  asked  Tecaughretanego,  what  was  the  use  of  the 
beaver's  stones,  or  glands,  to  them ; — as  the  she  beaver 
has  two  pair,  which  is  commonly  called  the  oil  :<tones, 
and  the  l)ark  stcmes?  He  said  that  as  the  i>eavers  are 
tlu;  dumbest  of  all  animals,  and  scarcely  ever  make  any 
noise;  and  as  they  were  working  creatures,  they  made 
use  of  this  smell  in  order  to  work  in  concert,  If  an  old 
beaver  was  to  come  on  the  bank  and  rub  his  breech 
upon  the  ground,  and  raise  a  perfume,  the  others  will 
collect  from  different  places  and  go  to  work;  this  is  also 
of  use  to  them  in  travelling,  that  they  may  thereby 
search  out  and  find  their  company.  Cunning  hunters 
finding  this  out,  have  made  use  of  it  against  tlie  Dt-avei, 
in  order  to  catch  them.  What  is  the  bate  which  you 
see  them  make  use  of,  but  a  com})Ound  of  the  oil  and 
bark  stones?  By  this  perfume,  which  is  only  a  false 
signal,  they  decoy  them  to  the  trap. 

Near  this  pond,  beaver  was  the  principal  game.  Before 
the  water  froze  up,  we  Ciiught  a  great  many  with  wooden 
and  steel  traps:  but  after  that,  we  hunted  the  beaver  on 
the  ice.  Some  places  here  the  beavers  build  large  houses 
to  live  in  ;  and  in  other  jdaces  they  have  subterraneous 
lodgings  in  the  banks.  Vhere  they  lodge  in  the  ground, 
we  have  no  chance  of  hunting  them  on  the  ice;  but 
where  they  have  houses,  we  go  with  malls  and  hand- 
spikes, and  l)reak  all  the  hollow  ice,  to  i)revent  them 
from  getting  their  heads  al)ove  the  water  under  it.  Then 
we  break  a  hole  in  the  house,  and  they  make  their 
escape  into  the  water;   but  as  they   cannot   live  long 


k 


r     I 


(  168) 

under  water,  they  are  obliged  to  go  to  some  of  those 
broken  i)laces  to  breathe,  and  the  Indians  commonly 
put  in  their  hands,  catch  them  by  the  hind  leg,  haul 
them  on  the  ice,  and  tomahawk  them  Sometimes  they 
shoot  them  in  the  head,  when  they  raise  it  above  the 
water.  I  asked  the  Indians  if  thoy  were  not  afraid  to 
catch  the  beavers  with  their  hands?  they  said  no:  they 
were  not  much  of  a  biting  creature;  yet  if  they  would 
catch  them  bv  the  fore  foot  they  would  bite. 

I  went  out  with  Tecaughretanego,  and  some  others  a 
beaver  hunting :  l)ut  we  did  not  succeed,  and  on  our 
return  we  saw  where  several  racoons  had  passed,  w^hile 
the  snow  'vas  soft;  tho'  there  wns  now  a  cru^t  ui)on 
it,  we  all  made  a  halt  looking  at  the  racoon  tracks.  As 
they  saw  a  tree  with  a  hole  in  it,  they  told  me  to  go  and 
see  if  they  had  gone  in  tliereat;  and  if  they  had,  to 
halloo,  and  they  would  come  and  take  them  out.  When 
I  went  to  that  tree,  I  found  they  had  gone  ])ast;  but  I 
saw  another  the  way  they  had  went,  and  i)roceeded  to 
examine  that,  and  found  they  had  gone  up  it.  I  then 
began  to  iialloo,  but  could  have  no  answer. 

As  it  began  to  snow  and  blow  most  violently,  I  re- 
turned and  proceeded  after  my  company,  and  for  some 
time  could  see  their  tracks;  but  the  old  snow  being 
about  three  inches  deep,  and  a  crubt  upon  it,  the  present 
driving  snow  soon  filled  up  the  tracks.  As  I  had  only 
a  bow.  arrows,  and  tomahawk  with  me,  and  no  way  to 
strike  fire,  I  appeared  to  be  in  a  dismal  situation — and 
as  the  air  was  dark  with  snow,  I  had  little  more  ])ros- 
pect  of  steering  my  course,  than  I  woul  ^  in  the  night. 
At  length  I  came  to  a  hollow  tree,  with  a  hole  at  one 
side  that  I  could  go  in  at.  I  went  in,  and  found  that  it 
was   a   dry   j)lace,   and    the    lioilow    almut    three   feet 


I 


:s«iaer: 


(  169  ) 


to 

len 

re- 
)ine 

ent 
)nly 


)ne 

tit 
feet 


diameter,  and  high  enough  for  me  to  stand  in.  I  found 
that  tliere  v*'as  also  a  considerable  quantity  of  Hoft,  dry 
rotton  wood,  around  this  hollow:  I  therefore  concluded 
that  I  would  lodge  here,  and  that  I  would  go  to  work, 
and  stop  up  the  door  of  my  house.  I  stripped  off  my 
blanket,  (whicli  was  all  the  clothes  that  I  had,  except- 
ing a  breech-clout,  leggins,  and  mockasons,)  and  with 
my  tomahawk,  fell  to  chopping  at  the  top  of  a  fallen 
tree  that  lay  near,  and  carried  wood  and  set  it  up  on 
end  against  the  door,  until  I  had  it  three  or  four  feet 
thick,  all  round,  excepting  a  hole  I  had  left  to  creej) 
in  at.  I  had  a  block  pre})ared  that  I  could  haul  after 
me,  to  stop  this  hole:  and  before  I  went  in  I  put  in  a 
number  of  small  sticks,  that  I  n:iight  more  etlectually 
stop  it  on  the  inside.  When  I  went  in,  I  took  my  tom- 
ahawk and  cut  down  all  the  dry,  rotten  wood  I  could 
get,  and  beat  it  small.  With  it  I  made  a  bed  like  a 
goose-nest  or  hog-bed,  and  with  the  small  sticks  stopped 
every  hole,  until  my  house  was  almost  dark.  1  stripped 
off  my  mockasons,  and  danced  in  tlie  centre  (>f  my  bed 
for  about  half  an  hour,  in  order  to  warm  myself.  In 
this  time  my  feet  and  whole  bor^.y  were  agreeably 
warmed.  The  snow,  in  the  mean  while,  had  stoi)ped 
all  the  holes,  so  that  my  house  was  as  dark  as  a  dun- 
geon ;  though  I  knew  that  it  could  not  yet  be  dark  out 
of  doors.  I  then  coiled  myself  up  in  my  blanket,  lay 
down  in  my  little  round  bed,  and  had  a  tolerable  nights 
lodging.  When  I  awoke,  all  was  dark — not  the  least 
glimmering  of  light  was  to  l)e  seen.  Immediately  I 
recollected  that  I  was  not  to  exj)ect  light  in  this  new 
habitation,  as  there  was  neither  door  nor  window  in  it. 
As  I  could  hear  the  storm  raging,  and  did  not  suffer 
much  cold,  as  I  was  then  situated,  I  concluded  1  would 


(  170  ) 

stay  in  my  nest  until  T  was  certain  it  was  day.    When  I 
had  reason  to  conclude  that  it  surely  was  day,  I  arose 
and  put  on  my  mockasons,  which  I  had  laid  under  my 
head  to  keep  i'rom  freezinjj;.     I  then  endeavored  to  find 
the  door,  and  had  to  do  all  by  the  sense  of  feolinp,  which 
took  me  some  time.     At  length  I  found  the  block,  but 
it  being  heavy,  and  a  large  quantity  of  snow  having 
fallen  on  it,  at  the  first  attempt  I  did  not  move  it.     I 
then  felt  terrified — among  all  the  hardships  I  had  sus- 
tained, I  never  knew  before,  what  it  was  to  be  thus 
deprived  of  light.     This,  with  the  other  circumstances 
attending  it,  appeared  grievous.     I  went  straightway  to 
bed  again,  wraj)ped  my  blanket  round  me,  and  lay  and. 
mused  awhile,  and  tlien   prayed  to  Almighty  (Jod  to 
direct  and  protect  me,  as  he  had  done  heretofore.    I  once 
again  attempted  to  move  away  the  block,  which  proved 
successful;    it  moved  about  nine  inches.     With  this  a 
considerable  quantity  of  snow  fell  in  from  al)ove,  and  I 
immediately  received  light;  so  that  1  found  a  very  great 
snow  had  fallen,  above  what  I  had  ever  seen  in  one 
night.     I  then  knew  why  I  could  not  easily  move  the 
block,  and  I  was  so  rejoiced  at  obtaining  the  light,  that 
all  my   other   dilliculties   seemed   to   vanish.     I   then 
turned  into  my  cell,  and  returned  (Jod  tlianks  for  hav- 
ing once  more  received  the  light  of  Heaven.     At  length 
I  belted  my  blanket  about  me,  got  my  tomahawk,  bow 
and  arrows,  and  went  out  of  my  den. 

I  was  now  in  tolerable  high  spirits,  tho'  the  snow 
had  fallen  above  three  feet  deej),  in  addition  to  what 
was  on  the  ground  before;  and  the  only  imperfect  guide 
I  had,  in  order  to  steer  my  course  to  camp,  was  the 
trees;  as  the  moss  generally  grows  on  the  north-west  side 
of  them,  if  they  are  straight.     I  proceeded  on,  wading 


V  ,-* 


^-*s^» 


,-»-»;,»~.„-»^-»«»'       •■»»     ■ 


snow 
what 
[uide 
the 
[side 
[ling 


(  171  ) 

through  the  snow,  and  about  twelve  o'clock  (  as  it  ap- 
peared afterwards,  from  that  time  to  ni,a:ht,  for  it  was  yet 
cloudy,)  I  came  upon  the  creek  that  our  camp  was  on, 
about  half  a  mile  below  the  camp;  and  when  I  came  in 
sight  of  the  camp,  I  found  that  there  was  great  joy,  by 
the  shouts  and  yelling  of  the  boys,  ike. 

When  I  arrived,  they  all  came  round  me,  and  received 
me  gladly ;  but  at  this  time  no  (juestions  were  asked,  and 
I  was  taken  into  a  tent,  where  they  gave  me  })lenty  of 
fat  beaver  meat,  and  then  asked  me  to  smoke.  When  I 
had  done,  Tecaughretanego  desircnl  me  to  walk  out  to  a 
fire  they  had  made.  I  went  out,  and  they  all  collected 
round  me,  both  men,  women,  and  boys.  Tecaughretan- 
'^go  asked  me  to  give  tliem  a  ])articular  account  of  what 
had  hai)pened  from  the  time  they  left  me  yesterday  un- 
till  now.  I  told  them  the  whole  of  the  story,  and  they 
never  interrupted  me;  but  when  I  made  a  stop,  the  in- 
tervals were  filled  with  loud  acclamations  of  joy.  As  I 
could  not,  at  this  time,  talk  Ottawa  or  Jibewawell,'  which 
is  nearly  the  same,)  I  delivered  my  story  in  Caughne- 
waga.  As  my  sister  Molly's  husband  was  a  Jibewa,  and 
could  understand  Caughnewaga,  he  acted  as  inter[)reter, 
and  delivered  my  story  to  the  Jil)cwas  and  ( )ttawas, 
which  they  received  with  pleasure.  Wiien  all  this  was 
done,  Tecaughretanego  made  a  si)eech  to  me  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner: 
"  Brother, 

"  You  see  we  have  })re})ared  snow-shoes  to  go  after 
you,  and  were  almost  ready  to  go  when  you  appeared  ; 
yet,  as  you  had  not  been  accustomed  to  hardships  in 
your  country,  to  the  east,  we  never  expected  to  see 
3^ou  alive.  Now,  we  are  glad  to  see  you  in  various 
respects ;  we  are  glad  to  see  you  on  your  own  account; 


(  172  ) 


and  we  are  glad  to  see  the  prospect  of  your  filling  the 
place  of  a  groat  man,  in  whose  room  you  were  adopted. 
We  do  not  blame  you  for  what  has  liappened,  we  blame 
ourselves ;  because,  we  did  not  think  of  this  driving  snow 
filling  up  the  tracks,  until  after  we  came  to  camj). 
"  Brother, 

"  Your  conduct  on  this  occasion  hath  pleased  us  much  : 
You  have  given  us  an  evidence  of  your  fortitude,  skill 
and  resolution;  and  we  hope  you  will  always  go  on  to 
do  great  actions,  as  it  is  only  great  actions  that  can  make 
a  great  man." 

I  told  my  brother  Tecaugliretanego,  that  I  thanked 
them  for  their  care  of  me,  and  for  the  kindness  I  always 
received.  I  told  him  that  I  alwa3's  wished  to  do  great 
actions,  and  hoped  I  would  never  do  any  thing  to  dis- 
honor any  of  those  with  whom  I  was  connected.  I  like- 
wise told  my  Jibewa  brother-in-law  to  tell  his  people 
that  I  also  thanked  them  for  their  care  and  kindness. 

The  next  morning  some  of  the  hunters  went  out  on 
snow-shoes,  killed  several  deer,  and  hauled  some  of  them 
into  camp  upon  the  snow.  They  fixed  their  carrying 
strings,  (  whicli  are  broad  in  the  middle,  and  small  at 
each  end,)  in  the  fore  feet  and  nose  of  the  deer,  and  laid 
the  broad  part  of  it  on  their  heads  or  about  their  shoul- 
ders, and  pulled  it  along ;  and  when  it  is  moving,  will 
not  sink  in  the  snow  much  deei)er  than  a  snow-shoe; 
and  when  taken  with  the  grain  of  the  hair,  slips  along 
very  easy. 

The  snow-shoes  are  made  like  a  hoop-net,  and  wrought 
with  buck-skin  thongs.  Each  shoe  is  about  two  feet  and 
an  half  long,  and  about  eighteen  inches  broad  before,  and 
small  behind,  with  cross-bars,  in  order  to  fix  or  tie  them 
to  the  feet.     After  the  snow  had  lay  a  few  days,  the  In- 


»»-••»'    «^ 


[ong 

imd 
md 
[em 
In- 


(  173  ) 

dians  tomahawked  the  deer,  by  pursuing  them  in  this 
manner. 

A])()ut  two  weeks  after  this,  there  came  a  warm  rain, 
and  took  away  the  chief  })art  of  the  snow,  and  broke  up 
the  ice :  tlicn  we  engaged  in  making  wooden  traps  to 
catch  beavers,  as  we  had  l)ut  few  steel  1ra])S.  These 
traps  are  made  nearly  in  the  same  manner  as  the  racoon 
traps  already  described. 

One  day  as  I  was  looking  after  my  traps,  I  got  be- 
nighted, by  beaver  ponds  interce])ting  my  way  to  camp ; 
and  as  I  had  neglected  to  take  fire-works  with  me,  and 
the  weather  very  cold,  I  could  find  no  suitable  lodging- 
place;  therefore,  the  only  expedient  I  could  think  of  to 
keep  myself  from  freezing,  was  exercise.  I  danced  and 
halloo'd  the  whole  night  with  all  my  might,  and  the 
next  day  came  to  camp.  Though  I  sufi'ered  much  more 
this  time  than  the  other  night  I  lay  out,  yet  tlie  Indians 
were  not  so  much  concerned,  as  they  thought  I  had  fire- 
works with  me;  but  when  they  knew  how  it  was,  they 
did  not  blame  me.  They  said  that  old  hunters  were  fre- 
quently involved  in  this  place,  as  the  beaver  dams  were 
one  above  another  on  every  creek  and  run,  so  that  it  is 
hard  to  find  a  fording  place.  They  applauded  me  for 
my  fortitude,  and  said,  as  they  had  now  plenty  of  beaver 
skins,  they  would  purchase  me  a  new  gun  at  Detroit,  as 
we  were  to  go  there  tlie  next  spring;  and  then  if  I  should 
chance  to  be  lost  in  dark  weather,  1  could  make  fire,  kill 
provision,  and  return  to  cam})  when  the  sun  shined. 
By  being  bewildered  on  the  waters  of  Muskingum,  I  lost 
repute,  and  was  reduced  to  the  bow  and  arrow ;  and  by 
lying  out  two  nights  here,  I  regained  my  credit. 

After  gome  time,  the  waters  all  froze  again,  and  then, 
as  formerly,  we  hunted  beavers  on  the  ice.    Though 


n  ii 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


28 


I.I 


145 
■HI 

m 

■10 


lii 

us 


2.5 

|||JJ= 

IM 

1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

.4 6"     — 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER, NY.  MS80 

(716)  873-4503 


r 

o 


M»,, 


'At 


t/ 


li'' 


C  174) 

beaver  meat,  without  salt  or  bread,  was  the  chief  of  our 
food  this  winter,  yet  we  had  always  plenty,  and  I  was 
well  contented  with  my  diet,  as  it  appeared  delicious 
fare,  after  the  way  we  had  lived  the  winter  before. 

Some  time  in  February,  we  scaffolded  up  our  fur  and 
skins,  and  moved  about  ten  miles,  in  quest  of  a  sugar 
camp,  or  a  suitable  place  to  make  sugar,  and  encamped 
in  a  large  bottom  on  the  head  waters  of  Big  Beaver  creek. 
We  had  some  difficulty  in  moving,  as  we  had  a  blind 
Caughnewaga  boy,  about  15  years  of  age,  to  lead  ; 
and  as  this  country  is  very  brushy,  we  frequently  had 
him  to  carry; — We  had  also  my  Jibewa brother-in-law's 
father  with  us,  who  was  thought  by  the  Indians  to  be  a 
great  conjurer — his  name  was  Manetohcoa; — this  old 
man  was  so  decrepit,  that  we  had  to  carry  him  this 
route  upon  a  bier, — and  all  our  baggage  to  pack  on  our 
backs. 

Shortly  after  we  came  to  this  place,  the  squaws  began 
to  make  sugar.  W;  had  no  large  kettles  with  us  this 
yerr,  and  they  made  the  frost,  in  some  mejisure,  supply 
the  place  of  fire,  in  making  sugar.  Their  large  bark 
vessels,  for  holding  the  stock  water,  they  made  broad 
and  shallow ;  and  as  the  weather  is  very  cold  here,  it 
fre^iuently  freezes  at  night  in  sugar  time;  and  the  ice 
they  break  and  cast  out  of  the  vessels.  I  asked  them  if 
they  were  not  throwing  away  the  sugar?  they  said, 
no ;  it  was  water  they  were  casting  away,  sugar  aid  not 
freeze,  and  tiiere  was  scarcely  any  in  that  ice.  They 
said  I  might  try  the  experiment,  and  boil  some  of  it, 
and  see  what  I  would  get.  I  never  did  try  it;  but  I 
observed,  that  after  several  times  freezing,  the  water 
that  remained  in  the  vessel  changed  its  colour,  and 
became  brown  and  very  sweet. 


HRS! 


this 

hark 
Droad 
3re,  it 

le  ice 
lem  if 

said, 
d  not 

Thoy 

of  it, 

)Ut   I 

water 
and 


(  175) 

About  the  time  we  were  done  making  supar  the  snow 
went  off  the  ground ;  and  one  night  a  squaw  raised  an 
alarm.  She  said  she  saw  two  men  with  guns  in  their 
hands,  upon  the  bank  on  the  other  side  of  the  creek, 
spying  our  tents — they  were  supposed  to  be  Johnston's 
Mohawks.  On  this  the  squaws  were  ordered  to  slip 
quietly  out,  some  distance  into  the  bushes ;  and  all  who 
had  either  guns  or  bows  were  to  squat  in  the  bushes 
near  the  tents;  and  if  the  enemy  rushed  up,  we  were 
to  give  them  the  first  fire,  and  let  the  Sijuaws  have  an 
opportunity  of  escaping.  I  got  down  beside  Tecaugh- 
retanego,  and  he  whispered  to  me  not  to  be  afraid,  for 
he  would  speak  to  the  Mohawks,  and  as  they  spake  the 
same  tongue  that  we  did,  they  would  not  hurt  the 
Caughnewagas,  or  me ;  but  they  would  kill  all  the 
Jibewas  and  Ottawas  that  they  could,  and  take  us  along 
with  them.  This  news  pleased  me  well,  and  I  heartily 
wished  for  the  approach  of  the  Mohawks. 

Before  we  withdrew  from  the  tents,  they  hud  carried 
Manetohcoa  to  the  fire,  and  gave  him  his  conjuring 
tools,  which  were  dyed  feathers,  the  bone  of  the  shoulder 
blade  of  the  wild  cat,  tobacco,  cVrc.  and  while  we  were  in 
the  bushes,  Manetohcoa  was  in  a  tent  at  the  fire,  conjur- 
ing away  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability.  At  lenpth  he 
called  aloud  for  us  all  to  come  in,  which  was  ijuickly 
obeyed.  Wlien  we  came  in,  he  told  us  that  after  he  had 
gone  through  the  whole  of  his  ceremony,  and  expected 
to  see  a  number  of  Moliawks  on  the  tlat  bone  when  it 
was  warmed  at  the  fire,  the  pictures  of  two  wolves  only 
appeared.  He  said,  though  there  were  no  Mohawks 
about,  we  must  not  be  angry  witli  the  squaw  for  giving 
a  false  alarm ;  as  she  had  occasion  to  go  out  and  hap- 
pened to  see  the  wolves,  though  it  was  moonlight ;  yet 


■■■■ 


^H 


1  « 


K;> 


■'!■♦■ 


(  176) 

she  got  afraid,  and  she  conceited  it  was  Indians,  with 
guns  in  their  hands,  so  he  said  we  might  all  go  to  sleep, 
for  there  was  no  danger — and  accordingly  we  did. 

The  next  morning  we  went  to  the  place,  and  found 
wolf  tracks,  and  where  they  had  scratched  with  their 
feet  like  dogs ;  but  there  was  no  sign  of  mockason  tracks. 
If  there  is  any  such  thing  as  a  wizzard,  I  think  Mane- 
tohcoa  was  as  likely  to  be  one  as  any  man,  as  he  was  a 
professed  worshipper  of  the  devil. — But  let  him  be  a 
conjuror  or  not,  I  am  persuaded  that  the  Indians  be- 
lieved what  he  told  them  upon  this  occasion,  as  well  as 
if  it  had  come  from  an  infallible  oracle ;  or  they  would 
not,  after  such  an  alarm  as  this,  go  all  to  sleep  in  an  un- 
concerned manner.  This  appeared  to  me  the  most  like 
witchcraft,  of  any  thing  I  beheld  while  I  was  with  them. 
Though  I  scrutinized  their  proceedings  in  business  of 
this  kind,  yet  I  generally  found  that  their  pretended 
witchcraft,  was  either  art  or  mistaken  notions,  whereby 
they  deceived  themselves. — Before  a  battle  they  spy  the 
enemy's  motions  carefully,  and  when  they  find  that 
they  can  have  considerable  advantage,  and  the  greatest 
prospect  of  success,  then  the  old  men  pretend  to  con- 
jure, or  to  tell  what  I'ne  event  will  be, — and  this  they  do 
in  a  figurative  manner,  which  will  bear  something  of  a 
different  interpretation,  which  generally  conies  to  pass 
nearly  as  they  foretold;  therefore  the  young  warriors 
generally  believed  these  old  conjurers,  which  had  a 
tendency  to  animate,  and  excite  them  to  push  on  with 
vigor. 

Some  time  in  March,  17o7,  we  began  to  move  back  to 
the  forks  of  (-ayaliaga,  which  was  about  forty  or  fifty 
miles;  and  as  we  had  no  horses,  we  had  all  our  baggage 
and  several  hundred  weight  of  beaver  skins,  and  some 


(  177  ) 


ick  to 
fifty 

some 


deer  and  bear  skins — all  to  pack  on  our  backs.  The 
method  we  took  to  accomplish  this,  was  by  making 
short  days'  journies.  In  the  morning  we  would  move 
on  with  as  much  as  we  were  able  to  carry,  about  five 
miles,  and  encamp;  and  then  run  back  for  more.  We 
commonly  made  three  such  trips  in  the  day.  When 
we  came  to  the  great  pond,  we  staid  there  one  day  to 
rest  ourselves,  and  to  kill  ducks  and  geese. 

While  we  remained  here,  I  went  in  company  with  a 
young  Caughnewaga,  who  was  about  sixteen  or  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  Chinnohete  by  name,  in  order  to 
gather  cranlicrries.  As  he  was  gatliering  berries  at  some 
distance  from  me,  three  Jibewa  squaws  crept  up  undis- 
covered, and  made  at  him  speedily,  but  he  nimbly 
escaped,  and  came  to  me,  apparently  terrified.  I  asked 
him  what  he  was  afraid  of?  he  replied  did  you  not  see 
those  squaws?  I  told  him  I  di(i,  and  they  appeared  to 
be  in  a  very  good  humour.  I  asked  him  wlierefore 
then  he  was  afraid  of  them?  He  faid  the  Jibewa 
squaws  were  very  bad  women,  and  had  a  very  ugly 
custom  among  them.  I  asked  him  wluit  that  custom 
was?  he  said  that  when  two  or  three  of  them  could 
catch  a  young  lad,  that  was  betwixt  a  man  and  a  boy, 
out  by  himself,  if  they  could  overpower  him,  they 
would  strip  him  by  force,  in  order  to  see  whether  lie 
was  coming  on  to  be  a  man  or  not.  He  said  that  was 
what  they  intended  when  they  crawled  up,  and  ran  so 
violently  at  him;  but,  said  ho,  I  am  very  glad  that  I  so 
narrowly  escaped.  I  then  agreed  with  riiinnohcte  in 
condemning  this  as  a  bad  custom,  and  an  exceeding 
immodest  action  for  young  women  to  be  guilty  of. 

From  our  sugar  camp  on  the  head   waters  of  Big 
Beaver  creek,  to  this  place  is  not  hilly,  and  some  j)lace8 
I. 


(178) 


4 
fi' 

i 


i 


m 

m 


11 


h 


the  woods  are  tolerably  clear :  but  in  most  places  exceed- 
ing brushy.  The  land  here  is  chiefly  second  and  third 
rate.  The  timber  on  the  upland  is  white-oak,  black-oak, 
hickory,  and  chesnut ;  there  is  also  in  some  places  wal- 
nut upland,  and  plenty  of  good  water.  The  bottoms 
here  are  generally  large  and  good. 

We  again  proceeded  on  from  the  pond  to  the  forks  of 
the  Cayahaga,  at  the  rate  of  about  five  miles  per  day. 

The  land  on  this  route  is  not  very  hilly,  it  is  well 
watered,  and  in  many  places  ill  timbered,  generally 
brushy,  and  chiefly  second  and  third  rate  land,  inter- 
mixed with  good  bottoms. 

When  we  came  to  the  forks,  we  found  that  the  skins 
we  had  scafiblded  were  all  safe.  Though  this  was  a 
public  place,  and  Indians  frequently  passing,  and  our 
skins  hanging  up  in  view,  yet  there  was  none  stolen ; 
and  it  is  seldom  that  Indians  do  steal  anything  from 
one  another;  and  they  say  they  never  did,  until  the 
white  people  came  among  them,  and  learned  some  of 
them  to  lie,  cheat,  and  steal, — but  be  that  as  it  may, 
they  never  did  curse  or  swear,  until  the  whites  learned 
them ;  some  think  their  langusige  will  not  admit  of  it, 
but  I  am  not  of  that  opinion;  if  I  was  so  disposed,  I 
could  find  language  to  curse  or  swear,  in  the  Indian 
tongue. 

I  remember  that  Tecaughretanego,  when  something 
displeased  him,  said,  God  damn  it. — I  asked  him  if  he 
knew  what  he  then  said?  he  said  he  did;  and  mentioned 
one  of  their  degrading  expressions,  which  he  supposed 
to  be  the  meaning,  or  something  like  the  meaning  of 
what  he  had  said.  I  told  him  that  it  did  not  bear  the 
least  resemblance  to  it;  that  what  he  said,  was  call- 
ing upon  the  Great  Spirit  to  punish  the  object  he  was 


mmmm 


; 


(  179) 

displeased  with.  He  stood  for  some  time  amnzed,  and 
then  said,  if  this  be  the  meaning  of  these  words,  what 
sort  of  people  are  the  whites  ?  when  the  traders  were 
among  us,  these  words  seemed  to  be  intermixed  with  all 
their  discourse.  He  told  me  to  reconsider  what  I  had 
said,  for  he  thought  I  must  be  mistaken  in  my  defini- 
tion; if  I  was  not  mistaken,  he  said  the  traders  applied 
these  words  not  only  wickedly,  but  oftentimes  very  fool- 
ishly and  contrary  to  sense  or  reason.  He  said,  he  re- 
membered once  of  a  trader's  accidentally  breaking  his 
gun-lock,  and  on  that  occasion  calling  out  aloud, 
God  damn  it — surely,  said  he,  the  gun-lock  was  not  an 
object  worthy  of  punishment  for  Owaneeyo,  or  the  Great 
Spirit :  he  also  observed  the  traders  often  used  this  ex- 
pression when  they  were  in  a  good  humor,  and  not 
displeased  with  any  thing. — I  acknowledged  that  the 
traders  used  this  expression  very  often,  in  a  most  irra- 
tional, inconsistent,  and  impious  manner:  yet  I  still  as- 
serted that  I  had  given  the  true  meaning  of  these  words. 
He  replied,  if  so,  the  traders  are  as  bad  as  Oonasahroona, 
or  the  under  ground  inhabitants,  which  is  the  name  they 
give  the  devils ;  as  they  entertain  a  notion  that  their 
place  of  residence  is  under  the  earth. 

We  took  up  our  birch-bark  canoes,  which  we  had 
buried,  and  found  that  they  were  not  damaged  by  the 
winter;  but  they  not  being  sufficient  to  carryall  that 
we  now  had,  we  made  a  large  chesnut  bark  canoe;  as 
elm  bark  was  not  to  be  found  at  this  place. 

We  all  embarked,  and  had  a  very  agreeable  passage 
down  the  Cayahaga,  and  along  the  south  side  of  lake 
Erie,  until  we  passed  the  mouth  of  Sandusky  ;  then  the 
wind  arose,  and  we  put  in  at  the  mouth  of  the  Miami 
of  the  lake,  at  Cedar  Point,  where  we  remained  several 


^^ 


i 


(  180) 

days,  and  killed  a  number  of  Turkeys,  geese,  ducks  and 
swans.  The  wind  being  fair,  and  the  lake  not  extremely 
rough,  we  again  embarked,  hoisted  up  sails,  and  arrived 
safe  at  the  Wiandot  town,  nearly  opposite  to  fort  Detroit, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  Here  we  found  a  num- 
ber of  French  traders,  every  one  very  willing  to  deal  with 
us  for  our  beaver. 

We  bought  ourselves  fine  clothes,  amunition,  paint, 
tobacco,  Ac.  and,  according  to  promise,  they  purchased 
me  a  new  gun :  yet  we  had  parted  with  only  about  one- 
third  of  our  beaver.  At  length  a  trader  came  to  town 
with  French  brandy :  We  purchased  a  keg  of  it,  and  held 
a  council  about  who  was  to  get  drunk,  and  who  was  to 
keep  sober.  I  was  invited  to  get  drunk,  but  I  refused 
the  proposal — then  they  said  that  I  must  be  one  of  those 
who  were  to  take  care  of  the  drunken  people.  I  did  not 
like  this ;  but  of  the  two  evils  I  chose  that  which  I 
was  the  least — and  fell  in  with  those  who  were  to  thought 
conceal  the  arms,  and  keep  every  dangerous  weapon  we 
could  out  of  their  way,  and  endeavor,  if  possible,  to 
keep  the  drinking  club  from  killing  each  other,  which 
was  a  very  hard  task.  Several  times  we  hazarded  our 
own  lives,  and  got  ourselves  hurt,  in  preventing  them 
from  slaying  each  other.  Before  they  had  finished  this 
keg,  near  one-third  of  the  town  was  introduced  to  this 
drinking  club ;  they  could  not  pay  their  part,  as  they 
had  already  disposed  of  all  their  skins;  but  that  made 
no  odds,  all  were  welcome  to  drink. 

When  they  were  done  with  this  keg,  they  applied  to 
the  traders,  and  procured  a  kettle  full  of  brandy  at  a 
time,  which  they  divided  out  with  a  large  wooden  spoon, 
— and  so  they  went  on,  and  never  quit  while  they  had 
a  single  beaver  skin. 


(  181  ) 


I  to 
a 

m, 
id 


When  the  trader  had  got  all  our  beaver,  he  moved  off 
to  the  Ottawa  town,  about  a  mile  above  the  Wiandot 
town. 

When  the  brandy  was  gone,  and  the  drinking  club 
sober,  they  appeared  much  dejected.  Some  of  them 
were  crippled,  others  badly  wounded,  a  number  of  their 
fine  new  shirts  tore,  and  several  blankets  were  burned : — 
a  number  of  squaws  were  also  in  this  club,  and  neglected 
their  corn  planting. 

We  could  now  hear  the  effects  of  the  brandy  in  the 
Ottawa  town.  They  were  singing  and  yelling  in  the 
most  hideous  manner,  both  night  and  day ;  but  their 
frolic  ended  worse  than  ours;  five  Ottawas  were  killed, 
and  a  great  many  wounded. 

After  this  a  number  of  young  Indians  were  getting 
their  ears  cut,  and  they  urged  me  to  have  mine  cut  like- 
wise; but  they  did  not  attempt  to  compel  me,  though 
they  endeavoured  to  persuade  me.  The  principal  ar- 
guments they  used  were  its  being  a  very  great  orna- 
ment, and  also  the  common  fashion — The  former  1  did 
not  believe,  and  the  latter  I  could  not  deny.  The  way 
they  performed  this  operation  was  by  cutting  the  fleshy 
part  of  the  circle  of  the  ear  close  to  the  gristle  quite 
through.  When  this  was  done  they  wrapt  rags  round 
this  fleshy  part  until  it  was  entirely  healed ;  they  then 
hung  lead  to  it  and  stretched  it  to  a  wonderful  length  : 
when  it  was  sufficiently  stretched,  they  wrapt  the  fleshy 
part  round  with  brass  wire,  which  formed  it  into  a  semi- 
circle about  four  inches  diameter. 

Many  of  the  young  men  were  now  exercising  them- 
selves in  a  game  resembling  foot  ball ;  though  they  com- 
monly struck  the  ball  with  a  crooked  stick,  made  for  that 
purpose ;  also  a  game  something  like  this,  wherein  they 


J 


r; 

f 


•A' 


(  182) 

used  a  wooden  ball,  about  three  inches  diameter,  and 
the  instrument  they  moved  it  with  was  a  strong  staff, 
about  five  feet  long,  with  a  hoop  net  on  the  end  of  it, 
large  enough  to  contain  the  ball.  Before  they  begin  the 
play,  they  lay  off  about  half  a  mile  distance  in  a  clear 
plain,  and  the  opposite  parties  all  attend  at  the  centre, 
where  a  disinterested  person  casts  up  the  ball,  then  the 
opposite  parties  all  contend  for  it.  If  any  one  gets  it 
into  his  net,  he  runs  with  it  the  way  he  wishes  it  to  go, 
and  they  all  pursue  him.  If  one  of  the  opposite  party 
overtakes  the  person  with  the  ball,  he  gives  the  staff  a 
stroke  which  causes  the  ball  to  fly  out  of  the  net;  then 
they  have  another  debate  for  it;  and  if  the  one  that 
gets  it  can  outrun  all  the  opposite  party,  and  can  carry 
it  quite  out,  or  over  the  line  at  the  end,  the  game  is  won : 
but  this  seldom  happens.  When  any  one  is  running 
away  with  the  ball,  and  is  likely  to  be  overtaken,  he 
commonly  throws  it,  and  with  this  instrument  can  cast 
fifty  or  sixty  yards.  Sometimes  when  the  ball  is  almost 
at  the  one  end,  matters  will  take  a  sudden  turn,  and  the 
opposite  party  may  quickly  carry  it  out  at  the  other  end. 
Oftentimes  they  will  work  a  long  while  back  and  for- 
ward before  they  can  get  the  ball  over  the  line,  or  win 
the  game. 

About  the  first  of  June,  1757,  the  warriors  were  pre- 
paring to  go  to  war,  in  the  Wiandot,  Pottowatomy,  and 
Ottawa  towns ;  also  a  great  many  Jibewas  came  down 
from  the  upper  lakes;  and  after  singing  their  war  songs, 
and  going  through  their  common  ceremonies,  they 
marched  off  against  the  frontiers  of  Virginia,  Maryland, 
and  Pennsylvania,  in  their  usual  manner,  singing  the 
travelling  song,  slow  firing,  (fee. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  river  St.  Laurence,  opposite 
to  Fort  Detroit,  there  is  an  island,  which  the  Indians 


3B»" 


te 

IS 


(  183  ) 

call  the  Long  Island,  and  which  they  say  is  above  one 
thousand  miles  long,  and  in  some  places  above  one  hun- 
dred miles  broad.  They  further  say  that  the  great  river 
that  comes  down  by  Canesatauga,  and  that  empties  into 
the  main  branch  of  St.  Laurence,  above  Montreal,  origi- 
nates from  one  source,  with  the  St.  Laurence,  and  forms 
this  island. 

Opposite  to  Detroit,  and  below  it,  was  originally  a 
prairie,  and  laid  off  in  lots  about  sixty  roods  broad,  and 
a  great  length :  each  lot  is  divided  into  two  field?,  which 
they  cultivate  year  about.  The  principal  grain  that  the 
French  raised  in  these  fields  was  spring  wheat  and  peas. 

They  built  all  their  houses  on  the  front  of  these  lots 
on  the  river  side;  and  as  the  banks  of  the  river  are  very 
low,  some  of  the  houses  are  not  above  three  or  four  feet 
above  the  surface  of  the  water ;  yet  they  are  in  no  dan- 
ger of  being  disturbed  by  freshes,  as  the  river  seldom 
rises  above  eighteen  inches ;  because  it  is  the  communi- 
cation, of  the  river  St.  Laurence,  from  one  lake  to 
another. 

As  dwelling-houses,  barns,  and  stables  are  all  built  on 
the  front  of  these  lots ;  at  a  distance  it  appears  like  a 
continued  row  of  houses  in  a  town,  on  each  side  of  the 
river  for  a  long  way.  These  villages,  the  town,  the  river, 
and  the  plains,  being  all  in  view  at  once,  affords  a  most 
delightful  prospect. 

The  inhabitants  here  chiefly  drink  the  river  water ; 
and  as  it  comes  from  the  northward,  it  is  very  whole- 
some. 

The  land  here  is  principally  second  rate,  and  com- 
paratively speaking,  a  small  part  is  lirst  or  third  rate ; 
though  about  four  or  five  miles  south  of  Detroit,  there  is 
a  small  portion  that  is  worse  than  what  I  would  call 
third  rate,  which  produces  abundance  of  hurtle  berries. 


(  184  ) 

There  is  plenty  of  good  meadow  ground  liere,  and  a 
great  many  marshes,  that  are  overspread  with  water. 
The  timber  is  elm,  sugar-tree,  bluck-ash,  white-ash, 
abundance  of  water-ash,  oak,  hickory,  and  some  walnut. 

About  the  middle  of  June  the  Indians  were  almost 
all  gone  to  war,  from  sixteen  to  sixty ;  yet  Tecaughre- 
tanego  remained  in  town  with  me.  Though  he  had  for- 
merly, when  they  were  at  war  with  the  southern  nations, 
been  a  great  warrior,  and  an  eminent  counsellor;  and  I 
think  as  clear  and  able  a  reasoner  upon  any  subject  that 
he  had  an  opportunity  of  being  acc^uainted  with,  as  I 
ever  knew ;  yet  he  had  all  along  been  against  this  war, 
and  had  strenuously  opposed  it  in  council.  He  said,  if 
the  English  and  French  had  a  quarrel  let  them  fight 
their  own  battles  themselves ;  it  is  not  our  busines  to  in- 
termeddle therewith. 

Before  the  warriors  returned  we  were  very  scarce  of  pro- 
vision :  and  though  we  did  not  commonly  steal  from  one 
another ;  yet  we  stole  during  this  time  any  thing  that 
we  could  eat  from  the  French,  under  the  notion  that  it 
was  just  for  us  to  do  so  ;  because  they  supported  their 
soldiers;  and  our  squaws,  old  men  and  ciiildren  were 
suffering  on  the  account  of  the  war,  as  our  hunters  were 
all  gone. 

Some  time  in  August  the  warriors  returned,and  brought 
in  with  them  a  great  many  scalps,  prisoners,  horses  and 
plunder ;  and  the  common  report  among  the  young  war- 
riors, was,  that  they  would  intirely  subdue  Tulhasaga, 
that  is  the  English,  or  it  might  be  literally  rendered  the 
Morning  Light  inhabitants. 

About  the  first  of  November  a  number  of  families 
were  preparing  to  go  on  their  winter  hunt,  and  all  agreed 
to  cross  the  lake  together.    We  encamped  at  the  mouth 


i 


SpsfWMB 


^m» 


■UBK><aM* 


le 


(  185) 

of  the  river  the  first  night,  and  a  council  was  held, 
whether  we  should  cross  through  by  the  three  islands, 
or  coast  it  round  the  lake.  These  islands  lie  in  a  line 
across  the  lake,  and  are  just  in  sight  of  each  other- 
Some  of  the  Wiandots  or  Ottiiwas  fretjuently  made 
their  winter  hunt  on  these  islands.  Though  excepting 
wild  fowl  and  fish,  there  is  scarcely  any  game  here  but 
racoons  which  are  amazingly  plenty,  and  exceedingly 
large  and  fat ;  as  they  feed  upon  the  wild  rice,  which 
grows  in  abundance  in  wet  places  round  these  islands. 
It  is  said  that  each  hunter,  in  one  winter,  will  catch  one 
thousand  racoons. 

It  is  a  received  opinion  among  the  Indians,  that  the 
snakes  and  racoons  are  transmutable ;  and  that  a  great 
many  of  the  snakes  turn  racoons  every  fall,  and  the 
racoons  snakes  every  spring.  Tiiis  notion  is  founded 
on  observations  made  on  the  snakes  and  racoons  in  this 
island. 

As  the  racooijs  here  lodge  in  rocks,  the  trappers  make 
their  wooden  traps  at  the  mouth  of  the  holes ;  and  as 
they  go  daily  to  look  at  their  traps,  in  the  winter  season, 
they  commonly  find  them  filled  with  racoons;  but  in 
the  spring,  or  when  the  frost  is  out  of  the  ground,  they 
say,  they  then  find  their  traps  filled  with  large  rattle 
snakes.  And  therefore  conclude  that  the  racoons  are 
transformed.  They  also  say  that  the  reason  why  they 
are  so  remarkably  plenty  in  the  winter,  is,  every  fall 
the  snakes  turn  racoons  again. 

I  told  them  that  though  I  had  never  landed  on  any 
of  these  islands,  yet  from  the  numerous  accounts  I  had 
received,  I  believed  that  both  snakes  and  racoons  were 
plenty  there;  but  no  doubt  they  all  remained  there  both 
summer  and  winter,  only  the  snakes  were  not  to  be 


"n 


^M 


(186) 

Tz:::^^:*^'-' '-' '  '^'  ■«"  ^«'-e  that  the,  „.« 

--»  of  the^u" y  tlfTVf  """™  '<>  '"e 
concluded  to  coast  it  round  th^'^i''  "^  '^'  "'''■  «'« 
,«""«  to  tl,e  mouth  of  the'^L'"'  ""''  '"  '"»  ''«vs 
^nded  on  cedar  point,  whet  ^fr?"  "'  '!"'  ''"^<''  -" 
Here  we  held  a  council  am)  n  ''T'"^  »«™™'  days. 
<iriving  hunt  i„  co,^ce  '  and  in  ".'''''  ""  '^°"'<'  '--^kea 
The  river  in  thu    i        •       "  Partnership. 

-0  the  u^v:::  :'tj:;i::i  "  t";^-"-  *  -  ■•» 

a  point,  all  the  hunters  r«h,vT'     '""''  '""'"Mtes  in 
"ver,  and  we  scatter  dourllles  T"'  '',;'  '""''  "P  "'« 
Jake.     VVhen  we  first  begaXro^""  "'^  "^'^  '»  "'« 
»f  e.ach  other,  but  as  we  an  .       ,'r'''''""""in«KJ,t 
»ove  regularly  together  b      he       *''  ^^"'  '^^  -»''' 
came  in  sigut  of  each  other  and   "r^-  /*  '^"°"'  '^^ 
'"8  '»  good  order;  before  w;'!!^^:?''"  '"  ''^  ""<">• 
«q»awsand  boys  in  the  clnoe  ™  P"""' "'o"' Ihe 

nver,  and  along  the  lake,  to  ;:e:„uhJ""r''  up  the 

their  escape  by  water.    As  we  ad  ,n,'"'^"""  """^ing 

he  guns  began  to  crack  slo^,"'""';''  "'''  '^e  p„i„t, 

he  firing  was  like  a  little  eS;;"''  "«-  -"«  time 

•^oys  were  busy  tomahawkiW  T     i'     ^^''I'-awsand 

and  we  shooting  them  do^  "!,"'", ''^^;i"  the  water, 


i 


PIIJMMMAMI  ■. 


<mm 


as  it 
^es  in 
p  the 
the 
sight 
uld 
we 
rcli- 
the 
the 
ing 
int, 
me 
ind 
er, 
in 
ir 


(  187  ) 

this  time  appeared  to  be  preparing  to  move  southward — 
It  might  be  asked  what  is  meant  by  the  geese  preparing 
to  move?  The  Indians  represent  them  as  holding  a 
great  council  at  this  time  concerning  the  w^eather,  in 
order  to  conclude  upon  a  day,  that  they  may  all  at  or 
near  one  time  leave  the  northern  lakes,  and  wing  their 
way  to  the  southern  bays.  When  matters  are  brought 
to  a  conclusion,  and  the  time  appointed  that  they  are  to 
take  wing,  then  they  say,  a  great  number  of  expresses 
are  sent  off,  in  order  to  let  the  different  tribes  know  the 
result  of  this  council,  that  they  may  be  all  in  readiness 
to  move  at  the  time  appointed.  As  there  is  a  great  com- 
motion among  the  geese  at  this  time,  it  would  appear 
from  their  actions,  that  such  a  council  had  been  held. 
Certain  it  is,  that  they  are  led  by  instinct  to  act  in  con- 
cert, and  to  move  off  regularly  after  their  leaders. 

Here  our  company  separated.  The  chief  part  of  them 
went  up  the  Miami  river,  that  empties  into  Lake  Erie, 
at  cedar  point,  whilst  we  p^'oceeded  on  our  journey  in 
company  with  Tecaughretanego,  Tontileaugo,  and  two 
families  of  the  Wiandots. 

As  cold  weather  was  now  approaching,  we  began  to 
feel  the  doleful  effects  of  extravagantly  and  foolishly 
spending  the  large  quantity  of  beaver  we  had  taken  in 
our  last  winter's  hunt.  We  were  all  nearly  in  the  same 
circumstances — scarcely  one  had  a  shirt  to  his  back  ;  but 
each  of  us  had  an  old  blanket  which  we  belted  round 
us  in  the  day,  and  slept  in  at  night,  with  a  deer  or  bear 
skin  under  us  for  our  bed. 

When  we  came  to  the  falls  of  Sandusky,  we  buried 
our  birch  bark  canoes  as  usual,  at  a  large  burjing  place 
fDr  that  purpose,  a  little  below  the  falls.  At  this  place 
the  river  falls  about  eight  feet  over  a  rock,  but  not  per- 


I! 


T 


;i 


'^1 


(  188) 

pendicular.  With  much  difficulty  we  pushed  up  our 
wooden  canoes,  some  of  us  went  up  the  river,  and  the 
rest  by  land  with  the  horses,  until  we  came  to  the  great 
meadows  or  prairies,  that  lie  between  Sandusky  and 
Sciota. 

When  we  came  to  this  place,  we  met  with  some  Ottawa 
hunters,  and  agreed  with  them  to  take,  what  they  call  a 
ring  hunt,  in  partnership.  We  waited  until  we  expected 
a  rain  was  near  falling  to  extinguish  the  fire,  and  then 
we  kindled  a  large  circle  in  the  prairie.  At  this  time, 
or  before  the  bucks  began  to  run,  a  great  number  of  deer 
lay  concealed  in  the  grass  in  the  day,  and  moved  about 
in  the  night;  but  as  the  fire  burned  in  towards  the  centre 
of  the  circle,  the  deer  fled  before  the  fire :  the  Indians 
were  scattered  also  at  some  distance  before  the  fire,  and 
shot  them  down  every  opportunity,  which  was  very  fre- 
quent, especially  as  the  circle  became  small.  When  we 
came  to  divide  the  deer,  there  were  about  ten  to  each 
hunter,  which  were  all  killed  in  a  few  hours.  The  rain 
did  not  come  on  that  night  to  put  out  the  out-side  circle 
of  the  fire,  and  as  the  wind  arose,  it  extended  through  the 
whole  prairie,  which  was  about  fifty  miles  in  length, 
and  in  some  places  nearly  twenty  in  breadth.  This  put 
an  end  to  our  ring  hunting  this  season,  and  was  in  other 
respects  an  injury  to  us  in  the  hunting  business  ;  so  that 
upon  the  whole,  we  received  more  harm  than  benefit  by 
our  rapid  hunting  frolic.  We  then  moved  from  the 
north  end  of  the  glades,  and  encamped  at  the  carrying 
place. 

This  place  is  in  the  plains,  betwixt  a  creek  that  emp- 
ties into  the  Sandusky,  and  one  that  runs  into  Sciota :  and 
at  the  time  of  high  water,  or  in  the  spring  season,  there 
is  but  about  one  half  mile  of  portage,  and  that  very  level, 


«f*i 


189  ) 


and  clear  of  rocks,  timber  or  stones ;  so  that  with  a  little 
digging,  there  may  be  water  carriage  the  whole  way 
from  Sciota  to  Lake  Erie. 

From  the  mouth  of  Sandusky  to  the  falls,  is  chiefly 
first  rate  land,  lying  flat  or  level,  intermixed  with  large 
bodies  of  clear  meadows,  where  the  grass  is  exceeding 
rank,  and  in  many  places  three  or  four  feet  high.  The 
timber  is  oak,  hickory,  walnut,  cherry,  black-ash,  elm, 
sugar-tree,  buckeye,  locust  and  beech.  In  some  places 
there  is  wet  timber  land — the  timber  in  these  places  is 
chiefly  water-ash,  sycamore,  or  ])Utton-wood. 

From  the  falls  to  the  prairies,  the  land  lies  well  to  the 
sun,  it  is  neither  too  flat  nor  too  hilly — and  chiefly  first 
rate.  The  timber  nearly  the  same  as  below  the  falls,  ex- 
cepting the  water-ash — There  is  also  here,  some  plats  of 
beech  land,  that  appears  to  be  second  rate,  as  it  fre- 
quently produces  spice-wood.  The  prairie  appears  to  be 
a  tolerable  fertile  soil,  though  in  many  places  too  wet  lor 
cultivation;  yet  I  apjirehend  it  would  produce  timber 
were  it  only  kept  from  fire. 

The  Indians  are  of  the  opinion  that  the  squirrels  plant 
all  the  timber;  as  they  l)ury  a  number  of  nuts  for  food, 
and  only  one  at  a  place.  When  a  squirrel  is  killed,  the 
various  kinds  of  nuts  thus  buried  will  grow. 

I  have  observed  that  when  these  prairies  have  only 
escaped  fire  for  one  year,  near  where  a  single  tree  stood, 
there  was  a  young  growth  of  timber  supposed  to  be 
planted  by  the  squirrels ;  but  when  the  prairies  wore 
atrain  burned,  all  this  young  growth  was  immediately 
consumed  ;  as  the  fire  rages  in  the  grass,  to  such  a  pitch, 
that  Lumbers  of  racoons  are  thereby  burned  to  death. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  prairie,  or  betwixt  that  and 
Sciota,  there  is  a  large  body  of  firr»t  rate  land — the  tim- 


(190) 

ber,  walnut,  locust,  sugar-tree,  buckeye,  cherry,  ash,  elm, 
mulberry,  plumb-trees,  spice- wood,  black-haw,  red-haw, 
oak  and  hickory. 

About  the  time  that  the  bucks  quit  running,  Tontil- 
eaugo,  his  wife  and  children,  Tecaughretanego,  his  son 
Nungany  and  myself,  left  the  Wiandot  camps  at  the 
carrying  place,  and  crossed  the  Sciota  river  at  the  south 
end  of  the  glades,  and  proceeded  on  about  a  south-west 
course  to  a  large  creek  called  Ollentangy,  which  I  be- 
lieve interlocks  with  the  waters  of  the  Miami,  and 
empties  into  Sciota  on  the  west  side  thereof.  From  the 
south  end  of  the  prairie  to  Ollentangy,  there  is  a  large 
quantity  of  beech  land,  intermixed  with  first  rate  land. 
Here  we  made  our  winter  hut,  and  had  considerable  suc- 
cess in  hunting. 

After  some  time,  one  of  Tontileaugo's  step-sons,  (  a  lad 
about  eight  years  of  age,)  offended  him,  and  he  gave  the 
boy  a  moderate  whipping,  which  much  displeased  his 
Wiandot  wife.  She  acknowledged  that  the  boy  was 
guilty  of  a  fault,  but  thought  that  he  ought  to  have  been 
ducked,  which  is  their  usual  mode  of  chastisement.  She 
said  she  could  not  bear  to  have  her  son  whipped  like  a 
servant  or  slave — and  she  was  so  displeased  'that  when 
Tontileaugo  went  out  to  hunt,  she  got  her  two  horses, 
and  all  her  effects,  (as  in  this  country  the  husband  and 
wife  have  separate  interests,)  and  moved  back  to  the 
Wiandot  camps  that  we  had  left. 

When  Tontileaugo  returned,  h^  ^  much  disturbed 
on  hearing  of  his  wife's  elopem  "  ^nd  said  that  he 
would  never  go  after  her,  were  it  not  that  he  was  afraid 
that  she  would  get  bewildered,  and  that  his  children 
that  she  had  taken  with  her  night  suffer.  Tontileaugo 
went  after  his  wife,  and  whcii  they  met  they  made  up 


t 


(  191  ) 


)ed 
Ihe 
lid 
ren 
[go 


the  quarrel,  and  he  never  returned ;  but  left  Tecaughre- 
tanego  and  his  son,  (  a  boy  about  ten  years  of  age  )  and 
myself,  who  remained  here  in  our  hut  all  winter. 

Tecaughretanego  who  had  been  a  first  rate  warrior, 
statesman  and  hunter;  and  though  he  was  now  near 
sixty  years  of  age,  he  was  yet  equal  to  the  common  run 
of  hunters,  but  subject  to  the  rheumatism,  which  de- 
prived him  of  the  use  of  his  legs. 

Shortly  after  Tontileaugo  left  us,  Tecaughretanego  be- 
came lame,  and  could  scarcely  walk  out  of  our  hut  for 
two  months.  I  had  considerable  success  in  hunting  and 
trapping.  Though  Tecaughretanego  endured  much  pain 
and  misery,  yet  he  bore  it  all  with  wonderful  psijience, 
and  would  often  endeavor  to  entertain  me  with  chear- 
ful  conversation.  Sometimes  he  would  ajjplaud  me  for 
my  diligence,  skill  and  activity — and  at  other  times  he 
would  take  great  care  in  < '  ing  me  instructions  concern- 
ing the  hunting  and  t'  ^  .ag  business.  He  would  also 
tell  me  tliat  if  I  failed  of  success,  we  would  suffer  very 
much,  as  we  were  about  forty  miles  from  any  one  living, 
that  we  knew  of;  yet  he  would  not  intimate  that  he  ap- 
prehended we  were  in  any  danger,  but  still  supposed 
that  I  was  fully  adequate  to  the  task. 

Tontileaugo  left  us  a  little  before  Christmap,  and  from 
that  until  some  time  in  February,  we  had  always  plenty 
of  bear  meat,  venison,  &c.  During  this  time  I  killed 
much  more  than  we  could  use,  but  having  no  horses  to 
carry  in  what  I  killed,  I  left  part  of  it  in  the  woods.  In 
February,  there  came  a  snow,  with  a  crust,  which  made 
a  great  noise  when  walking  on  it,  and  frightened  away 
the  deer;  and  as  bear  and  beaver  were  scarce  here,  we 
got  entirely  out  of  provision.  After  I  had  hunted  two 
days  without  eating  any  thing,  and  had  very  short  al- 


(  192) 


Jowance  for  some  days  before,  I  returned  late  in  the  even- 
ing faint  and  weary.  When  I  came  into  our  hut,  Te- 
eaughretanego  asked  what  success?  I  told  him  not  any. 
He  asked  me  if  I  was  not  very  hungry?  I  replied  that 
the  keen  appetite  seemed  to  be  in  some  measure  removed, 
but  I  was  both  faint  and  weary.  He  commanded  Nun- 
ganey,  his  little  son,  to  bring  me  something  to  eat,  and 
he  brought  me  a  kettle  with  some  bones  and  broth, — 
after  eating  a  few  mouthfuls,  my  appcoite  violently  re- 
turned, and  I  thought  the  victuals  had  a  most  agreeable 
relish,  though  it  was  only  fox  and  wild-cat  bones,  which 
lay  about  the  camp,  which  the  ravens  and  turkey-buz- 
zards had  picked — these  Nunganey  had  collected  and 
boiled,  until  the  sinews  that  remained  on  the  bones, 
would  strip  off.  I  speedily  finished  my  allowance,  such 
as  it  was,  and  when  I  had  ended  my  siveet  repast,  Te- 
caughretanego  asked  me  how  I  felt?  I  told  him  that 
I  was  much  refreshed.  He  then  handed  me  his  pipe 
and  pouch,  and  told  me  to  take  a  smoke.  I  did  so.  He 
then  said  he  had  something  of  importance  to  tell  me,  if 
I  was  now  composed  and  ready  to  hear  it.  I  told  him 
that  I  was  ready  to  hear  him.  He  said  the  reason  why 
he  deferred  his  speech  till  now,  was  because  few  men 
are  in  a  right  humor  to  hear  good  talk,  when  they  are 
extremely  hungry,  as  they  are  then  generally  fretful 
and  discomposed;  but  as  you  appear  now  to  enjoy  calm- 
ness and  serenity  of  mind,  I  will  now  communicate  to 
you  the  thoughts  of  my  heart,  and  those  things  that  I 
know  to  be  true. 
*'  Brother, 
"As  you  have  lived  with  the  white  people,  you  have 
not  had  the  siime  advantage  of  knowing  that  the  great 
being  above  feeds  hia  people,  and  gives  them  their  meat 


(  1^3  ) 


are 
tful 
Im- 
e  to 
at  I 


in  due  season,  as  we  Indians  have,  who  are  frequently 
out  of  provisions,  and  yet  are  wonderfully  supplied,  and 
that  so  frequently,  that  it  is  evidently  the  hand  of  the 
great  Owaneeyo*,  that  doth  this:  whereas  the  white 
people  have  commonly  large  stocks  of  tame  cattle,  that 
they  can  kill  when  they  please,  and  also  their  barns  and 
cribs  filled  with  grain,  and  therefore  have  not  the  same 
opportunity  of  seeing  and  knowing  that  they  are  sup- 
ported by  the  ruler  of  Heaven  and  Earth. 
"  Brother, 

"I  know  that  you  are  now  afraid  that  we  will  all 
perish  with  hunger,  but  you  have  no  just  reason  to  fear 
this. 

"  Brother, 

"  I  have  been  young,  but  am  now  old — I  have  been 
frequently  under  the  like  circumstance  that  we  now  are, 
and  that  some  time  oi*  other  in  almost  every  year  of  my 
life ;  yet,  I  have  hitherto  been  supported,  and  my  wants 
supplied  in  time  of  need. 
"  Brother, 

"Owaneeyo  sometimes  suffers  us  to  be  in  want,  in  order 
to  teach  us  our  dependance  upon  him,  and  to  let  us 
know  that  we  are  to  love  and  serve  him :  and  likewise 
to  know  the  worth  of  the  favors  that  we  receive,  and 
to  make  us  more  thankful. 
"  Brother, 

"Be  assured  that  you  will  be  supplied  with  food,  and 
that  just  in  the  right  time;  but  you  must  continue  dili- 
gent in  tlie  use  of  means — go  to  sleep,  and  rise  early  in 
the  morning  and  go  a  hunting — be  strong  and  exert 

*  This  is  the  name  of  God  in  their  tongue,  and  signifies  the  owner 
and  ruler  of  all  things. 

M 


(  194  ) 

yourself  like  a  man,  and  the  Great  Spirit  will  direct 
your  way." 

The  next  morning  I  went  out,  and  steered  about  an 
east  course.  I  proceeded  on  slowly  for  about  five  miles, 
and  saw  deer  frequently,  but  as  the  crust  on  the  snow 
made  a  great  noise,  they  were  always  running  before  I 
spied  them,  so  that  I  could  not  get  a  shot.  A  violent 
appetite  returned,  and  I  became  intolerably  hungry: — it 
was  now  that  I  concluded  I  would  run  off  to  Pennsyl- 
vania, my  native  country.  As  the  snow  was  on  the 
ground,  and  Indian  hunters  almost  the  whole  of  the  way 
before  me,  I  had  but  a  poor  prospect  of  making  my 
escape,  but  my  case  appeared  desperate.  If  I  staid  here, 
I  thought  I  would  perish  with  hunger,  and  if  I  met  with 
Indians,  they  could  but  kill  me. 

I  then  proceeded  on  as  fast  as  I  could  walk,  and  when 
I  got  about  ten  or  twelve  miles  from  our  hut,  I  came 
upon  fresh  buffaloe  tracks — I  pursued  after,  and  in  a 
short  time  came  in  sight  of  them,  as  they  were  passing 
through  a  small  glade — I  ran  with  all  my  might,  and 
headed  them,  where  I  lay  in  ambush,  and  killed  a  very 
large  cow.  I  immediately  kindled  a  fire  and  began  to 
roast  meat,  but  could  not  wait  till  it  was  done — I  ate  it 
almost  raw.  When  hunger  was  abated,  I  began  to  be 
tenderly  concerned  for  my  old  Indian  brother,  and  the 
little  boy  I  had  left  in  a  perishing  condition.  I  made 
haste  and  packed  up  what  meat  I  could  carry,  secured 
what  I  left  from  the  wolves,  and  returned  homewards. 

I  scarcely  thought  on  the  old  man's  speech  while  I 
was  almost  distracted  with  hunger,  but  on  my  return 
was  much  affected  with  it,  reflected  on  myself  for  my 
hard-heartedness  and  ingratitude,  in  attempting  to  run 
off  and  leave  the  venerable  old  man  and  little  bov  to 


(  195) 


direct 


very 
fan  to 
ite  it 
be 
dthe 
iiade 
ured 
ards. 
lie  I 
turn 
my 
run 
V  to 


perish  with  hunger.  I  also  considered  how  remarkably 
the  old  man's  speech  had  been  verified  in  our  provi- 
dentially obtaining  a  supply.  I  thought  also  of  that 
part  of  his  speech  which  treated  of  the  fractious  dispo- 
sitions of  hungry  people,  which  was  the  only  excuse  I 
had  for  my  base  inhumanity,  in  attempting  to  leave  them 
in  the  most  deplorable  situation. 

As  it  was  moonlight,  I  got  home  to  our  hut,  and  found 
the  old  man  in  his  usual  good  humor.  He  thanked  me 
for  my  exertion,  and  bid  me  sit  down,  as  I  must  certainly 
be  fatigued,  and  he  commanded  Nunganey  to  make  haste 
and  cook.  I  told  him  I  would  cook  for  him,  and  let  the 
boy  lay  some  meat  on  the  coals  for  himself — which  he 
did,  but  ate  it  almost  raw,  as  I  had  done.  I  immedi- 
ately hung  on  the  kettle  with  some  water,  and  cut  the 
beef  in  thin  slices,  and  put  them  in : — when  it  had 
boiled  awhile,  I  proposed  taking  it  ofl'  the  fire,  but  the 
old  man  replied,  "let  it  be  done  enough."  This  he  said 
in  as  patient  and  unconcerned  a  manner,  as  if  he  had 
not  wanted  a  single  meal.  He  commanded  Nunganey 
to  eat  no  more  beef  at  that  time,  least  he  might  hurt  him- 
self; but  told  him  to  sit  down,  and  after  some  time  he 
might  sup  some  broth — this  command  he  reluctantly 
obeyed. 

When  we  were  all  refreshed,  Tecaughretanego  de- 
livered a  speech  upon  the  necessity  and  pleasure  of  re- 
ceiving the  necessary  supports  of  life  with  thankfulness, 
knowing  that  Owaneeyo  is  the  great  giver.  Such  speeches 
from  an  Indian,  may  be  thought  by  those  who  are  un- 
acquainted with  them,  altogether  incredible;  but  when 
we  reflect  on  the  Indian  war,  we  may  readily  conclude 
that  they  are  not  an  ignorant  or  stupid  sort  of  people,  or 
they  would  not  have  been  such  fatal  enemies.     When 


(  196  ) 

they  came  into  our  country  they  outwitted  us — and 
when  we  sent  armies  into  their  country,  they  outgen- 
eralled,  and  beat  us  with  inferior  force.  Let  us  also  take 
into  consideration  that  Tecaughretanego,  was  no  com- 
mon person,  but  was,  among  the  Indians,  as  Socrates  in 
the  ancient  heathen  world ;  and,  it  may  be,  equal  to  him 
— if  not  in  wisdom  and  learning,  yet,  perhaps,  in  patience 
and  fortitude.  Notwithstanding  Tecaughretanego's  un- 
common natural  abilities,  yet  in  the  sequel  of  this  his- 
tory you  will  see  the  deficiency  of  the  light  of  nature, 
unaided  by  revelation,  in  this  truly  great  man. 

The  next  morning  Tecaughretanego  desired  me  to  go 
back  and  bring  another  load  of  buffaloe  beef:  As  I  pro- 
ceeded to  do  so,  about  five  miles  from  our  hut  I  found 
a  bear  tree.  As  a  sapling  grew  near  the  tree,  and  reached 
near  the  hole  that  the  bear  went  in  at,  I  got  dry  dozed 
or  rotten  wood,  that  would  catch  and  hold  fire  almost  as 
well  as  spunk.  This  wood  I  tied  up  in  bunches,  fixed 
them  on  my  back,  and  then  climbed  up  the  sapling,  and 
with  a  pole,  I  put  them  touched  with  fire,  into  the  hole, 
and  then  came  down  and  took  my  gun  in  my  hand. 
After  some  time  the  bear  came  out,  and  I  killed  and 
skinned  it,  packed  up  a  load  of  the  meat,  (after  securing 
the  remainder  from  the  wolves,)  and  returned  home  be- 
fore night.  On  my  return,  my  old  brother  and  his  son 
were  much  rejoiced  at  my  success.  After  this  we  had 
plenty  of  provision. 

We  remained  here  until  some  time  in  April,  1758.  At 
this  time  Tecaughretanego  had  recovered  so,  that  he  could 
walk  about.  VV^e  made  a  bark  canoe,  embarked,  and 
went  down  Ollentangy  some  distance,  but  the  water  be- 
ing low,  we  were  in  danger  of  splitting  our  canoe  on  the 
rocks :  therefore  Tecaughretanego  concluded  we  would 
encamp  on  shore,  and  pray  for  rain. 


118 — and 
outgen- 
ilso  take 
no  com- 
3rate8  in 
1  to  him 
patience 
(go's  un- 
til is  his- 
nature, 

ne  to  go 
.8  I  pro- 
I  found 
reached 
y  dozed 
most  as 
IS,  fixed 
ng,  and 
le  hole, 

hand. 

d  and 
3curing 
|me  be- 

lis  son 
re  had 

hS.  At 
[could 
and 
ler  be- 
in  the 
i^ould 


(  197  ) 

When  we  encamped,  Tecaughretanego  made  himself  a 
sweat-house,  which  he  did  by  sticking  a  number  of  hooj)S 
in  the  ground,  each  hoop  forming  a  semi-circle — this 
he  covered  all  round  with  blankets  and  skins;  he  then 
prepared  hot  stones,  which  he  rolled  into  this  hut,  vt 
then  went  into  it  himself,  with  a  little  kettle  of  water  in 
his  hand,  mixed  with  a  variety  of  herbs,  which  he  had 
formerly  cured,  and  had  now  with  him  in  his  j)ack — 
they  afforded  an  odoriferous  perfume.  When  he  was  in, 
he  told  me  to  pull  down  the  blankets  behind  him,  and 
cover  all  up  close,  which  I  did,  and  then  he  began  to 
pour  water  upon  the  hot  stones,  and  to  sing  aloud.  He 
continued  in  this  vehement  hot  place  about  fifteen 
minutes : — all  this  he  did  in  order  to  purify  himself  before 
he  would  address  the  Supreme  Being.  When  he  came 
out  of  his  sweat-house,  he  began  to  burn  tobacco  and 
pray.  He  began  each  i)etition  with  o/t,  ho,  ho,  ho,  which 
is  a  kind  of  aspiration,  and  signifies  an  ardent  wish.  I 
observed  that  all  his  petitions  were  only  for  immediate 
or  present  temi)oral  blessings.  He  began  his  address  by 
thanksgiving,  in  the  following  manner: 

"O  great  being!  I  thank  thee  that  1  have  obtained 
the  use  of  my  legs  again — that  I  am  now  able  to  walk 
about  and  kill  turkeys,  c^'c.  without  feeling  exqui^ite 
pain  and  misery  :  I  know  that  thou  art  a  hearer  and  a 
helper,  and  therefore  I  will  call  upon  thee. 
"  Oh,  ho,  ho,  ho, 

"Grant  that  my  knees  and  ankles  may  l)e  right  well, 
and  that  I  may  be  able,  not  only  to  walk,  but  to  run, 
and  to  jump  logs,  as  I  did  last  fall. 
"  Oh,  ho,  ho,  ho, 

"  Grant  that  on  this  voyage  we  may  fre(juently  kill 
bears,  as  they  may  be  crossing  theSciota  and  Sandusky. 


(  19«  ) 

"  Oh,  ho,  ho,  ho, 

"Grunt,  that  we  may  kill  plenty  of  Turkeys  along  the 
banks,  to  stew  with  our  fat  bear  meat. 
"  Oh,  ho,  ho,  ho, 

"  Grant  that  rain  may  come  to  raise  the  Ollentangy 
about  two  or  three  feet,  that  we  may  cross  in  safety 
down  to  Sciota,  without  danger  of  our  canoe  being 
wrecked  on  the  rocks : — and  now,  O  great  being !  thou 
knowest  how  matters  stand — thou  knowest  that  I  am  a 
great  lover  of  tobacco,  and  though  I  know  not  when  I 
may  get  any  more,  I  now  make  a  present  of  the  last  I 
have  unto  thee,  as  a  free  burnt  offering;  therefore  I  ex- 
pect thou  wilt  hear  and  grant  these  requests,  and  I,  thy 
servant,  will  return  thee  thanks,  and  love  thee  for  thy 
gifts." 

During  the  whole  of  this  scene  I  sat  by  Tecaughretan- 
ego,  and  as  he  went  through  it  with  the  greatest  solem- 
nity, I  was  seriously  affected  with  his  prayers.  I  re- 
mained duly  composed  until  he  came  to  the  burning 
of  the  tobacco,  and  as  I  knew  that  he  was  a  great  lover 
of  it,  and  saw  him  cast  the  last  of  it  into  the  fire,  it  ex- 
cited in  me  a  kind  of  merriment,  and  I  insensibly  smiled. 
Tecaughretanego  observed  me  laughing,  which  displeased 
him,  and  occasioned  him  to  address  me  in  the  following 
manner : 

"  Brother, 

"  I  have  somewhat  to  say  to  you,  and  I  hope  you  will 
not  be  ofifended  when  I  tell  you  of  your  faults.  You 
know  that  when  you  were  reading  your  books  in  town, 
I  would  not  let  the  boys  or  any  one  disturb  you ;  but 
now,  when  I  was  praying,  I  saw  you  laughing.  I  do 
not  think  you  look  upon  praying  as  a  foolish  thing ;  I 
believe  you  pray  yourself.     But,  perhaps  you  may  think 


(  199  ) 


my  mode,  or  manner  of  prayer  foolisli ;  if  so,  you  ought 
in  a  friendly  manner  to  instruct  me,  and  not  make 
8j)ort  of  sacred  things." 

I  acknowledged  my  error,  and  on  this  he  handed  me 
his  pipe  to  smoke,  in  token  of  friendship  and  reconcilia- 
tion; though  at  that  time  he  had  nothing  to  smoke,  but 
red-willow  bark.  I  told  him  something  of  the  method 
of  reconciliation  with  an  oftended  God,  as  revealed  in 
my  Bible,  which  I  had  then  in  possession.  He  said 
thfit  he  liked  my  story  better  than  that  of  the  French 
priest,  but  he  thought  that  he  was  now  too  old  to  begin 
to  learn  a  new  religion,  therefore  he  should  continue  to 
worship  God  in  the  way  he  had  been  taught,  and  that 
if  salvation  or  future  happiness  was  to  be  had  in  his  way 
of  worship,  he  expected  he  would  obtain  it,  and  if  it  was 
inconsistent  with  the  honor  of  the  great  spirit  to  ac- 
cept of  him  in  his  own  way  of  worship,  he  hoped  that 
Owaneeyo  would  accept  of  him  in  the  way  I  had  men- 
tioned, or  in  some  other  way,  though  he  might  now  be 
ignorant  of  the  channel  through  which  favor  or  mercy 
might  be  conveyed.  He  said  that  he  believed  that 
Owaneeyo  would  hear  and  help  every  one  that  sincerely 
waited  upon  him. 

Here  we  may  see  how  far  the  light  of  nature  could  go ; 
perhaps  we  see  it  here  almost  in  its  highest  extent.  Not- 
withstanding the  just  views  that  this  great  man  enter- 
tained of  Providence,  yet  we  now  see  him  ( though  he 
acknowledged  his  guilt)  expecting  to  appease  the  Deity, 
and  procure  his  favor,  by  burning  a  little  tobacco.  We 
may  observe  that  all  Heathen  nations,  as  far  as  we  can 
find  out  either  by  tradition  or  the  light  of  Nature,  agree 
with  Revelation  in  this,  that  sacrifice  is  necessary,  or 
that  some  kind  of  atonement  is  to  be  made,  in  order  to 


I 


i 


I 


(  200  ) 

remove  guilt,  and  reconcile  them  to  God.  This,  accom- 
panied with  numberless  other  witnesses,  is  sufficient  evi- 
dence of  the  rationality  and  truth  of  the  Scriptures. 

A  few  days  after  Tecaughretanego  had  gone  through 
his  ceremonies,  and  finished  his  prayers,  the  rain  came 
and  raised  the  creek  a  sufficient  height,  so  that  we  passed 
in  safety  down  to  Sciota,  and  proceeded  up  to  the  carry- 
ing place.  Let  us  now  describe  the  land  on  tliis  rouie, 
from  our  winter  hut,  and  down  Ollentangy  to  the  Sciota, 
and  up  the  carrying  place. 

About  our  winter  cabin  is  chieffy  first  and  second  rate 
land.  A  considerable  way  up  Ollentangy  on  the  south- 
west side  thereof,  or  betwixt  it  and  the  Miami,  there  is  a 
very  large  prairie,  and  from  this  prairie  down  Ollentangy 
to  Sciota,  is  generally  first  rate  land.  The  timber  is 
walnut,  sugar-tree,  ash,  buckeye,  locust,  wild-cherry,  and 
spice-wood,  intermixed  with  some  oak  and  beech.  From 
the  mouth  of  Ollentangy  on  the  east  side  of  Sciota,  up 
to  the  carrying  place,  there  is  a  large  body  of  fir>^t  and 
second  rate  land,  and  tolerably  well  watered.  Tlie  tim- 
ber is  ash,  sugar-tree,  walnut,  locust,  oak,  and  beech. 
Up  near  the  carrying  place,  the  land  is  a  little  hilly,  but 
the  soil  good. 

We  proceeded  from  this  place  down  Sandusky,  and  in 
our  passage  we  killed  four  bears,  and  a  number  of  turkeys. 
Tecaughretanego  appeared  now  fully  pursuaded  that  all 
this  came  in  answer  to  his  prayers — and  who  can  say 
with  any  degree  of  certainty  that  it  was  not  so  ? 

When  we  came  to  the  little  lake  at  the  mouth  of  San- 
dusky we  called  at  a  Wiandot  town  that  was  then  there, 
called  Sunyendeand.  Here  we  diverted  ourselves  several 
days,  by  catching  rock-fish  in  a  small  creek,  the  name 
of  which  is  also  Sunyendeand,  whicli  signifies  Rock-Fish, 


(  201  ) 


say 


Tliey  fished  in  the  night,  with  lights,  and  struck  the  fish 
with  giggs  or  spears.  The  rock-fish  here,  when  they  be- 
gin first  to  run  up  the  creek  to  spawn,  are  exceeding  fat, 
and  sufficient  to  fry  themselves.  The  first  night  we 
scarcely  caught  fish  enough  for  present  use,  for  all  that 
was  in  the  town. 

The  next  morning  I  met  with  a  prisoner  at  this  place, 
by  the  name  of  Thompson,  who  had  been  taken  from 
Virginia:  he  told  me  if  the  Indians  would  only  omit 
disturbing  the  fish  for  one  night,  he  could  catch  more 
fish  than  the  whole  town  could  make  use  of.  I  told  Mr. 
Thompson  that  if  he  wj.d  certain  he  could  do  this,  that 
I  would  use  my  influence  with  the  Indians,  to  let  the 
fish  alone  for  one  night.  I  applied  to  the  chiefs,  who 
agreed  to  my  proposal,  and  said  they  were  anxious  to 
see  what  the  Great  Knife  (  as  they  called  the  Virginian  ) 
could  do.  Mr.  Thompson,  with  the  assistance  of  some 
other  prisoners,  spt  to  work,  and  made  a  hoop  net  of  Elm 
bark ;  they  then  cut  down  a  tree  across  the  creek,  and 
stuck  in  stakes  at  the  lower  side  of  it,  to  prevent  the  fiah 
from  i)assing  up,  leaving  only  a  gap  at  the  one  side  of 
the  creek : — here  he  sat  with  his  net,  and  when  he  felt  the 
fish  touch  the  net  he  drew  it  up,  and  frequently  would 
haul  out  two  or  three  rock-fish  that  would  weigh  about 
five  or  six  pounds  each.  He  continued  at  this  until  he 
had  hauled  out  a])out  a  waggon  load,  and  then  left  the 
gap  open,  in  order  to  let  them  pass  up,  for  they  could 
not  go  far,  on  account  of  the  shallow  water.  Before  day 
Mr.  Thompson  shut  it  up,  to  ))revent  them  from  j)assing 
down,  in  order  to  let  the  Indians  have  some  diversion  in 
killing  them  in  day-light. 

When  the  news  of  the  fish  came  to  town,  the  Indians 
all  collected,  and  with  surprise  l)cheld  the  large  heap  of 


r 
i 


(  202  ) 

fish,  and  applauded  the  ingenuity  of  the  Virginian. 
When  they  saw  the  number  of  them  that  were  confined 
in  the  water  above  the  tree,  the  young  Indians  ran  back 
to  the  town,  and  in  a  short  time  returned  with  their 
spears,  gijrgs,  bows  and  arrows,  &c.  and  were  the  chief 
of  that  day  engaged  in  killing  rock-fish,  insomuch 
that  we  had  more  than  we  could  use  or  preserve.  As 
we  had  no  salt,  or  any  way  to  keep  them,  they  lay  upon 
the  banks,  and  after  sometime  great  numbers  of  turkey- 
buzzards  and  eagles  collected  together  and  devoured 
them. 

Shortly  after  this  we  left  Sunyendeand,  and  in  three 
days  arrived  at  Detroit,  where  we  remained  this  sum- 
mer. 

Sometime  in  May  we  heard  that  General  Forbes,  with 
seven  thousand  men,  was  preparing  to  carry  on  a  cam- 
paign against  Fort  DuQuesne,  which  then  stood  near 
where  Fort  Pitt  was  afterward  erected.  Upon  receiving 
this  news,  a  num])er  of  runners  were  sent  off  by  the 
French  commander  at  Detroit,  to  urge  the  different 
tribes  of  Indian  warriors  to  repair  to  Fort  DuQuesne. 

Some  time  in  July,  17-^)8,  the  Ottawas,  Jibewas,  Poto- 
watomies,  and  Wiandots,  rendezvoused  at  Detroit,  and 
marched  off  to  Fort  DuQuesne,  to  prej)are  for  the  en- 
encounter  of  General  Forbes.  The  common  report  was, 
that  they  would  serve  him  as  they  did  General  Brad- 
dock,  and  obtain  much  plunder.  F'rom  this  time,  until 
fall,  we  had  frecjuent  accounts  of  Forbes's  army,  by  In- 
dian runners  that  were  sent  out  to  watch  their  motion. 
They  spied  tliem  frequently  from  the  mountains  ever 
after  they  left  Fort  Loudon.  Notwithstanding  their 
vigilence,  colonel  Grant,  with  his  Highlanders,  stole  a 
march  upon  them,  and  in  the  night  took  possession  of  a 


1^ 


■wiM»i^ii  ■!   I  >  w 


(  203  ) 


until 
y  In- 
3tion. 

ever 
tlieir 
)le  a 

of  a 


hill  about  eighty  rood  from  Fort  DuQuesne: — this  hill  is 
on  that  account  called  Grant's  hill  to  this  day.  The 
French  and  Indians  knew  not  that  Grant  and  his  men 
were  there  until  they  beat  the  drum  and  played  upon 
the  bag-pipes,  just  at  day-light.  They  then  flew  to  arms, 
and  the  Indians  ran  up  under  covert  of  the  banks  of 
Allegheny  and  Monongahela,  for  some  distance,  and 
then  sallied  out  from  the  banks  of  the  rivers,  and  took 
possession  of  the  hill  above  Grant;  and  as  he  was  on  the 
point  of  it  in  sight  of  the  fort,  they  immediately  sur- 
rounded him,  and  as  he  had  his  Highlanders  in  ranks, 
and  in  very  close  order,  and  the  Indians  scattered,  and 
concealed  behind  trees,  they  defeated  him  with  the  loss 
only  of  a  few  warriors  ; — most  of  the  Highlanders  were 
killed  or  taken  prisoners. 

After  this  defeat,  the  Indians  held  a  council,  but  were 
divided  in  their  opinions.  Some  said  that  general 
Forbes  would  now  turn  back,  and  go  home  the  way  that 
he  came,  as  Dunbar  had  done  when  General  Braddock 
was  defeated:  others  supposed  he  would  come  on.  The 
French  urged  the  Indians  to  stay  and  see  the  event : — 
but  as  it  was  hard  for  the  Indians  to  be  absent  from 
their  squaws  and  children,  at  this  season  of  the  year,  a 
great  many  of  them  returned  home  to  their  hunting. 
After  this,  the  remainder  of  the  Indians,  some  French 
regulars,  and  a  great  num1)er  of  Canadians,  marched  off 
in  quest  of  General  Forbes.  They  met  his  army  near 
Fort  liigoneer,  and  attacked  them,  but  were  fruntrated  in 
their  design.  They  said  that  Forbcs's  men  were  begin- 
ning to  learn  the  art  of  war,  and  that  there  were  a  great 
numl)er  of  American  rilienien  along  witli  the  red-coats, 
who  scattered  out,  took  trees,  and  were  good  marks-men ; 
therefore  they  found  they  could  not  accomplish  tlieir 


M '; 


C  204  ) 

design,  and  were  obliged  to  retreat.  When  they  returned 
from  the  battle  to  Fort  DuQuesne,  the  Indians  con- 
cluded that  they  would  go  to  their  hunting.  The  French 
endeavored  to  persuade  them  to  stay  and  try  another 
battle.  The  Indians  said,  if  it  was  only  the  red-coats 
they  had  to  do  with,  they  could  soon  subdue  them,  Ijut 
they  could  not  withstand  Ashalecoa,  or  the  Great  Knife* 
which  was  the  name  they  gave  the  Virginians.  They 
then  returned  home  to  their  hunting,  and  the  French 
evacuated  the  fort,  which  General  Forbes  came  and  took 
possession  of  without  further  opposition,  late  in  the  year 
1758,  and  at  this  time  began  to  build  Fort  Pitt. 

Wlien  Tecaughretanego  had  heard  the  particulars  of 
Grant's  defeat,  he  said  he  could  not  well  account  for  his 
contradictory  and  inconsistent  conduct.  He  said  as  the 
art  of  war  consists  in  ambushing  and  surprizing  our 
enemies,  and  in  preventing  them  from  ambushing  and 
surprizing  us;  (Jrant,  in  the  first  place,  acted  like  a  wise 
and  experienced  oflicer,  in  artfully  approaching  in  the 
night  without  being  discovered;  but  when  he  came  to 
the  place,  and  the  Indians  were  lying  asleej)  outside  of 
the  fort,  between  him  and  the  Allegheny  river,  in  place 
ot  slipping  up  quietly,  and  falling  upon  them  with  their 
broad  swords,  they  beat  the  drums  and  })layed  upon  the 
bag-pipes.  He  said  he  could  account  for  this  inconsist- 
ent conduct  no  other  way  than  by  supposing  that  he 
had  made  too  free  witii  spirituous  liquors  during  the  night, 
and  became  intoxicated  about  daylight.     But  to  return: 

This  year  we  hunted  up  Sandusky,  and  down  Sciota, 
and  took  nearly  the  same  route  that  we  had  done  the 
last  hunting  season.  We  had  considcral»le  success,  and 
returned  to  Detroit,  some  time  in  April,  1759. 


It 


i  . 


(  205  ) 


returned 
ans  con- 
e  French 
'  another 
red-coats 
lem,  but 
it  Knifej 
!.  Thoy 
French 
md  took 
the  year 

ulars  of 
t  for  his 
d  as  the 
ing  our 
ng  and 
?  a  wise 

in  the 
ame  to 

si<le  of 
place 

h  their 

on  the 
nsist- 

at  he 

night, 

turn: 

ciota, 

e  the 

,  and 


Shortly  after  this,  Tecaughretanego,  his  son  Nungany 
and  myself,  went  from  Detroit,  (in  an  elm  bark  canoe) 
to  Caughnewaga,  a  very  ancient  Indian  town,  about  nine 
miles  above  Montreal,  where  I  remained  until  about  the 
first  of  July.  I  then  heard  of  a  French  ship  at  Mon- 
treal that  had  English  piisjoners  on  board,  in  order  to 
carry  them  over  sea,  and  exchange  them.  I  went  pri- 
vately off  from  the  Indians,  and  got  also  on  board  ;  but 
as  general  Wolfe  had  stopped  the  River  St.  Laurence,  we 
were  all  sent  to  prison  in  Montreal,  where  we  remained 
four  months.  Some  time  in  November  we  were  all  sent 
off  from  this  place  to  Crown  Point,  and  exchanged. 

Early  in  the  year  1760,  I  came  home  to  Conocochea- 
gue,  and  found  that  my  people  could  never  ascertain 
whether  I  was  killed  or  taken,  until  my  return.  They 
received  me  with  great  joy,  but  were  surprized  to  see  me 
so  much  like  an  Indian,  both  in  my  gait  and  gesture. 

Upon  enquiry,  I  found  that  my  sweet-heart  was  mar- 
ried a  few  days  before  I  arrived.  My  feelings  I  must 
leave  on  this  occasion,  for  those  of  my  readers  to  judge, 
who  have  felt  the  pangs  of  disappointed  love,  as  it  is 
impossible  now  for  me  to  describe  the  emotion  of  soul  I 
felt  at  that  time. 

Now  there  was  peace  with  the  Indians,  wliich  lasted 
until  the  year  ITO'i.  Some  time  in  May,  this  year,  I 
married,  and  about  that  time  the  Indians  again  com- 
menced Iiostilities,  and  were  busily  engaged  in  killing 
and  scalping  the  frontier  inhabitants  in  various  parts  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  whole  Conococheague  N'ullcy,  from 
the  North  to  the  South  Mountain,  had  been  almost  en- 
tirely evacuated  during  Braddock  s  war.  This  st;ite  was 
then  a  Quaker  government,  and  at  the  first  of  this  war 
the  frontiers  received  no  assistance  from  the  state.     As 


i 

i 


'i. 


1 1 


(  206  ) 

the  people  were  now  beginning  to  live  at  home  again 
they  thought  it  hard  to  be  drove  away  a  second  time, 
and  were  determined,  if  possible,  to  make  a  stand ;  there- 
fore they  raised  as  much  money  by  collections  and  sub- 
scriptions, as  would  pay  a  company  of  rifle-men  for 
several  months.  The  subscribers  met  and  elected  a 
committee  to  manage  the  business.  The  committee 
appointed  me  captain  of  this  company  of  rangers,  and 
gave  me  the  appointment  of  my  own  subalterns.  I  chose 
two  of  the  most  active  young  men  that  I  could  find,  who 
had  also  been  long  in  captivity  with  the  Indians.  As 
we  enlisted  our  men,  we  dressed  them  uniformly  in  the 
Indian  manner,  with  breech-clouts,  leggins,  mockasons, 
and  green  shrouds,  which  we  wore  in  the  same  manner 
that  the  Indians  do,  and  nearly  as  the  Highlanders  wear 
their  plaids.  In  place  of  hats  we  wore  red  handker- 
chiefs, and  painted  our  faces  red  and  black,  like  Indian 
warriors.  I  taught  them  the  Indian  discipline,  as  I 
knew  of  no  other  at  that  time,  which  would  answer  the 
purpose  much  better  than  British.  We  succeeded  be- 
yond expectation  in  defending  the  frontiers,  and  were 
extolled  by  our  employers.  Near  the  conclusion  of 
this  expedition,  I  accepted  of  an  ensign's  commission  in 
the  regular  service,  under  King  George,  in  what  was 
called  the  Pennsylvania  line.  Upon  my  resignation, 
my  lieutenant  succeeded  me  in  command,  the  rest  of 
the  time  they  were  to  serve.  In  the  fall  (the  same  year,) 
I  went  on  the  Susquehannah  campaign,  against  the 
Indians,  under  the  command  of  General  Armstrong. 
In  this  route  we  burnt  the  Delaware  and  Monsey  towns, 
on  the  West  Branch  of  the  Susquehannah,  and  destroyed 
all  their  corn. 


%■ 


(  207  ) 


me  again 
ond  time, 
nd;  there- 
3  and  sub- 
e-men  for 
elected  a 
ommittee 
•gers,  and 
.    I  chose 
find,  who 
ians.    As 
ly  in  the 
Dckasons, 
manner 
Jers  wear 
handker- 
e  Indian 
ine,  as  I 
3wer  the 
ided  be- 
nd were 
ision  of 
psion  in 
:iat  was 
nation, 
rest  of 
year,) 
1st  the 
strong. 
|towns, 
troyed 


In  the  year  1764, 1  received  a  lieutenant's  commission, 
and  went  out  on  General  Bouquet's  campaign  against 
the  Indians  on  the  Muskingum.  Here  we  brought  thera 
to  terms,  and  promised  to  be  at  peace  with  them,  upon 
condition  that  they  would  give  up  all  our  people  that 
they  had  then  in  captivity  among  them.  They  then 
delivered  unto  us  three  hundred  of  the  prisoners,  and 
said  that  they  could  net  collect  them  all  at  this  time,  as 
it  was  now  late  in  the  year,  and  they  were  far  scattered ; 
but  they  promised  that  they  would  bring  them  all  into 
Fort  Pitt  early  next  spring,  and  as  security  that  they 
would  do  this,  they  delivered  to  us  six  of  their  chiefs,  as 
hostages.  Upon  this  we  settled  a  cessation  of  arms  for 
six  months,  and  promised  upon  their  fulfilling  the  afore- 
said condition,  to  make  with  them  a  permanent  peace. 

A  little  below  Fort  Pitt  the  hostages  all  made  their 
escape.  Shortly  after  this  the  Indians  stole  horses,  and 
killed  some  people  on  the  frontiers.  The  king's  i)rocl.'i- 
mation  was  then  circulating  and  set  up  in  various  ])ublic 
places,  prohibiting  any  person  from  trading  with  the 
Indians,  until  further  orders. 

Notwithstanding  all  this,  about  the  first  of  March,  17C5, 
a  number  of  waggons  loaded  with  Indian  goods,  and 
warlike  stores,  were  sent  from  Philadelphia  to  Henry 
Pollens's,  Conococheague,  and  from  thence  seventy  pack- 
horses  were  loaded  with  these  goods,  in  order  to  carry 
them  to  Fort  Pitt.  This  alarmed  the  country,  and  Mr. 
William  Duffield  raised  about  fiflv  armed  men,  and  met 
the  pack-horses  at  the  place  wliere  Mercersl)urg  now 
stands.  Mr.  Dullield  desired  the  employers  to  store  up 
their  goods,  and  not  proceed  until  further  orders.  They 
made  light  of  this,  and  went  over  the  North  Mountain, 
where  they  lodged  in  a  small  valley  called  the  Great 


^  I 


(.  208  ) 
Cove.    Mr.  DuffieJd  nnj  u- 

now  jrpf  '  ,  "^  ^^  exposed  to  if  ^r  r  ,  ^  ^'■^^^^'^''• 
thZ  Tf  '"PP^^-'-He  Lid  as  .;  *^'  ^"^'^»«  should 
»hey  had  scarcelvr   .^^       "^  ""^  '^  ^as  weJI  known  fi   ? 

Vvhen  I  beheld  th  • 
7'  oompel  then,  to'lCIZl" ''''''  '''■  ''"'S^'d  would 
th  7.°"  "'""'•"^.  ".a  I  LriT^**'  I  collected  ten 

pea  in  the  woods      Th^      ^'     ^^  "^S^t,  and  en 
What  t  lev  JoO      i-,  '^"  ^''t'y  wprp  ,r.^.  J"'^!/y 


^g 


ft-. 


after,  and 
o  store  up 
ipropriety 
le  front Ilt 
ns  should 
lown  tliat 
•e  almost 
f  murder, 
ce  of  the 
islanding 
e  of  wJiat 
rous  bur- 
Id  would 
'cted  ten 
lined  in 

and  en- 
iual,  we 

idelong 

he  side 

ee,  and 

orders 

nirade 

a  con- 

3  then 
scjue, 
hem, 
re  Its 

front, 
wrty, 
urnt 
ver- 


1)1  ng 


(  209  ) 

The  traders  went  back  to  Fort  Loudon,  and  applied 
to  the  commanding  officer  there,  and  got  a  party  of 
Highland  soldiers,  and  went  with  them  in  quest  of  the 
robbers,  as  they  called  us,  and  without  applying  to  a 
magistrate,  or  obtaining  any  civil  authority,  but  barely 
upon  suspicion,  they  took  a  number  of  creditable  per- 
sons prisoners,  (who  were  chiefly  not  any  way  concerned 
in  this  action,)  and  confined  them  in  the  guard-house 
in  Fort  Loudon.  I  then  raised  three  hundred  riflemen, 
marched  to  Fort  Loudon,  and  encamped  on  a  hill  in  sight 
of  the  fort.  We  were  not  long  there,  until  we  had  more 
than  doul)le  as  many  of  the  British  troops  prisoners  in 
our  camp,  as  ihey  had  of  our  people  in  the  guard-house. 
Captain  Grant,  a  Highland  officer,  who  commanded 
Fort  Loudon,  then  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  our  camp, 
where  we  settled  a  cartel,  and  gave  them  above  two  for 
one,  which  enabled  us  to  redeem  all  our  men  from  the 
guard-house,  without  further  difficulty. 

After  this,  Ca})tain  Grant  kept  a  number  of  rifle  guns, 
which  the  Highlanders  had  taken  from  the  country 
people,  and  refused  to  give  them  up.  As  he  was  riding 
out  one  day,  we  took  him  prisoner,  and  detained  him 
until  he  delivered  U})  the  arms;  we  also  destroyed  a 
large  quantity  of  gunpowder  that  the  traders  had  stored 
U]),  lest  it  might  be  conveyed  privately  to  the  Indians. 
The  king's  troops,  and  our  party,  had  now  got  entirely 
out  of  the  channel  of  the  civil  law,  and  many  unjusti- 
fiable things  were  done  by  both  parties.  This  convinced 
me  more  than  ever  I  had  been  before,  of  the  absolute 
necessity  of  the  civil  law,  in  order  to  govern  mankind 

Al)out  this  time,  the  following  song  was  composed  by 
Mr.  George  Campbell,  (an  Iri-sh  gentleman,  who  had 

N 


4 


(  210) 

been  educated  in  Dublin,)  and  was  frequently  sung  to 
the  tune  of  the  Black  joke: 

Ye  patriot  souls,  who  love  to  sing, 
What  serves  your  country  and  your  king, 

In  wealth,  peace  and  royal  estate  ; 
Attention  give,  whilst  I  rehearse 
A  modern  fact,  in  jingling  verse, 
How  party  interest  strove  what  it  cou'd 
To  profit  itself  by  public  blood. 

But  justly  met  its  merited  fate. 

Let  all  those  Indian  traders  claim. 
Their  just  reward,  inglorious  fame. 

For  vile,  base  and  treacherous  ends. 
To  PoUins,  in  the  spring,  they  sent 
Much  warlike  stores,  with  an  intent 
To  carry  them  to  our  barbarous  foes, 
Expecting  that  no-body  dare  oppose 

A  present  to  their  Indian  friends. 

Astonish'd  at  the  wild  design. 
Frontier  inhabitants  combined. 

With  brave  souls,  to  stop  their  career; 
Although  some  men  apostatiz'd. 
Who  first  the  grand  attempt  advis'd. 
The  bold  frontiers  they  bravely  stood. 
To  act  for  their  king  and  their  country's  good, 

In  joint  league,  and  strangers  to  fear. 

On  March  the  fifth,  in  sixty-five. 
The  Indian  presents  did  arrive, 

In  long  pomp  and  cavalcade. 
Near  Sidelong  Hill,  where  in  disguise, 
Some  patriots  did  their  train  surprize. 
And  quick  as  lightning  tumbled  their  loads, 
And  kiodled  them  bonfires  in  the  woods. 

And  mostly  burnt  their  whole  brigade. 


«  «■  oKK^ivnt-t  tniw««nr.  -,> 


tly  sung  to 


(  211  ) 

At  Loudon,  when  they  heard  the  news, 
They  scarcely  knew  which  way  to  choose, 

For  blind  rage  and  discontent; 
At  length  some  soldiers  they  sent  out, 
With  guides  for  to  conduct  the  route. 
And  seized  some  men  that  were  trav'ling  there, 
And  hurried  them  into  Loudon  where 

They  laid  them  fast  with  one  consent. 

But  men  of  resolution  thought, 

Too  much  to  see  their  neighbors  caught, 

For  no  crime  but  false  surmise; 
Forthwith  they  joiu'd  a  warlike  baud, 
And  march' d  to  Loudon  out  of  hand, 
And  kept  the  jailors  pris'ners  there. 
Until  our  friends  enlarged  were, 

Without  fraud  or  any  disguise. 

Let  mankind  censure  or  commend. 
This  rash  performance  in  the  end, 

Then  both  sides  will  find  their  account. 
'Tis  true  no  law  can  justify, 
To  burn  our  neighbor's  property. 
But  when  this  property  is  design'd. 
To  serve  the  enemies  of  mankind. 

It's  high  treason  in  the  amount. 

After  this  we  kept  up  a  guard  of  men  on  the  frontiers, 
for  several  months,  to  prevent  supplies  being  sent  to  the 
Indians,  until  it  was  proclaimed  that  Sir  William  John- 
son had  made  ])eace  witli  them,  and  then  we  let  the 
traders  pass  unmolested. 

In  the  year  17C(),  I  heard  that  Sir  William  Johnson, 
the  king's  agent  for  settling  afiairs  with  the  Indians' 
had  purchased  from  them  all  the  land  west  of  the 
Appalacliian  Mountains,  that  lay  between  the  Ohio 
and  the  Cherokee  River ;  and  as  I  knew  by  conversing 
with  the  Indians  in  their  own  tongue,  that  there  was  a 


■  / 


^sa 


w  t 


(212  ) 

large  l)ody  of  rioh  land  there,  I  concluded  I  would  take 
ii  tour  westward,  and  explore  that  country. 

1  set  out  about  the  last  of  June,  176(j,  and  went,  in 
the  first  i)lace,  to  Holstein  River,  and  from  thence  I 
travelled  westward  in  company  with  Joshua  Horton, 
Uriah  Stone,  William  Baker,  and  James  Smith,  who 
•came  Irom  near  Carlisle.  There  was  only  four  white 
men  of  us,  and  a  mulaito  slave  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  tliat  Mr.  Horton  had  with  him.  We  explored  the 
country  south  of  Kentucky,  and  there  was  no  more 
sign  of  white  men  there  then,  than  there  is  now  west  of 
the  head  waters  of  the  Missouri.  We  also  explored 
Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Rivers,  from  Stone's*  River 
down  to  the  Ohio. 

When  we  came  to  the  mouth  of  Tennessee,  my  fellow 
travellers  concluded  that  they  would  proceed  on  to  the 
Illinois,  and  see  some  more  of  the  land  to  the  west: — 
this  I  would  not  agree  to.  As  I  had  already  been  longer 
from  home  than  what  I  expected,  I  thought  my  wife 
would  be  distressed,  and  think  I  was  killed  by  the  In- 
<lians;  therefore  I  concluded  that  I  would  return  home. 
I  sent  my  horse  with  my  fellow  travellers  to  the  Illinois, 
as  it  was  diflicult  to  take  a  horse  through  the  mountains. 
My  comrades  gave  me  the  greatest  part  of  the  umuni- 
tion  they  then  had,  which  amounted  only  to  half  a 
pound  of  powder,  and  lead  equivalent.  Mr.  Horton 
also  lent  me  his  mulatto  l)oy,  and  I  then  set  olf  through 
the  wilderness,  for  Carolina. 

*  Stone's  river  is  a  south  branch  of  Cumberland,  and  empties  into 
it  above  Nashville.  We  first  gave  it  this  name  in  our  journal  in 
May,  1 7t)7,  after  one  of  my  fellow  travellers,  >rr.  Uriah  Stone,  and 
I  am  told  that  it  retains  the  same  name  unto  this  day. 


<i«. 


I  would  take 

and  went,  in 
om  thence  I 
(hua  Horton, 
Smith,  who 
y  four  white 
teen  years  of 
explored  the 
,vas  no  more 
s  now  west  of 
dso  explored 
tone's*  River 

ee,  my  fellow 
;eed  on  to  the 
o  the  west: — 
y  been  longer 
ight  my  wife 
id  by  the  In- 
Ireturn  home, 
the  Illinois, 
|e  mountains. 

the  umuni- 

|ly  to  half  a 

Mr.  Horton 

off  through 


Id  empties  into 
lour  journal  in 
[ah  Stone,  and 


(  213  ) 

About  eight  days  after  I  left  my  company  at  the 
mouth  of  Tennessee,  on  my  journey  eastward,  I  got  a 
cane  stab  in  my  foot  which  occasioned  my  leg  to  swell, 
and  I  suffered  much  pain.  I  was  now  in  a  doleful  situ- 
ation— far  from  any  of  the  human  species,  excepting 
black  Jamie,  or  the  savages,  and  I  knew  not  when  I 
might  meet  with  them — my  case  appeared  desperate, 
and  I  thought  something  must  be  done.  All  the  surgi- 
cal instruments  I  had,  was  a  knife, a  mockason  awl,  and 
a  i)air  of  bullet  moulds — with  these  I  determined  to 
draw  the  snag  from  my  foot,  if  ]»ossil>Ie.  I  stuck  the 
awl  in  the  skin,  and  with  the  knife  1  cut  the  flesh  away 
from  around  the  cane,  and  then  I  commanded  tlie 
mulatto  fellow  to  catcli  it  with  the  bullet  moulds,  and 
pull  it  out,  which  he  did.  When  I  saw  it,  it  seemed  a 
shocking  thing  to  be  in  any  person's  foot;  h  will  there- 
fore be  supposed  that  I  was  very  glad  to  have  it  out. 
The  black  fellow  attended  upon  me,  and  obeyed  my 
directions  faithfully.  I  ordered  him  to  search  for  Indian 
medicine,  and  told  him  to  get  me  a  quantitv  of  bark 
from  the  root  of  a  Ivnn  tree,  whicli  I  made  him  beat  on 
a  stone,  with  a  tomahawk,  and  boil  it  in  a  k(;ttle,  and 
with  the  ooze  I  bathed  my  foot  and  leg: — what  remained 
when  I  had  finished  bathing,  I  boiled  to  a  jelly,  and 
made  poultices  thereof.  As  I  had  no  rags,  I  mad(;  use 
of  the  green  moss  that  grows  upon  logs,  and  wra})ped  it 
round  with  elm  bark:  by  this  means,  (sim])le  as  it  may 
seem,)  the  swelling  and  inflammation  in  a  great  measure 
abated.  As  stormy  weather  appeared,  I  ordered  Jamie 
to  make  us  a  shelter,  which  he  did  by  erecting  forks 
and  poles,  and  covering  them  over  with  cane  tops,  like 
a  fodder-house.  It  was  but  about  one  hundred  vards  from 
a  large  buffaloe  road.     As  we  were  almost  out  of  i)ro- 


n 
n 


'yl 


IE 


|h'.^(WWM^^«^ 


'i  i 


(  214  ) 
vision,  r  commanded  Jamip  .„  ,,1, 
"long  as  well  as  I  could  al°,,'  ""^  «""'  ^'"^  I  ''ent 
«nd  killed  a  buffaloe  '\  Cr'f,  "y^elf  near  tl,e  road, 

the  lean,  and  frye,l  the  .  Ilowo'V;  iT    "?'  ""  J"'^'"'* 
^■e  kept  to  stew  with  our  iirlTr  "'^ ""'/"'  "^"t,  which 

While  I  lay  at  this  pW  al  thl?''i*?  "• 
was  a  Psalm  Book  and  wt'tf  ""^^  ^  '"«•  '«  fead, 

this  situation,  I  co mposod   le  X"  '''""''■    ^^ilst  i„' 
then  frequently  sung  '  '^""<"""«  ^«''-'.  which  I 

Six  weeks  I've  in  this  desart  been, 
VV  ith  one  mulatto  lad 

Excepting  this  poor  stupid  slave 
J^o  conipany  I  had. 

^"solitude  I  here  remain 
A  cripple  very  sore 

Nofi-iendorneighbor'tobefound 
My  case  for  to  doi,lore. 

;7::S;b:;f;:-'— . 

Th^  doleful  circumstance  cannot 

Wy  happmess  i>revent, 
Whde  peace  of  conscience  I  eniov 

Oreat  comfort  and  content 

^'  '""""»■>'''-•'' great  buffabe' 
•''••k,  IS  a  name  well  known  h^  m     . 
^-^  for  ,„o,u  „„.  ,„  ,„,,U    ,1  ,^„  ;,^;;"'--'.  «-i  fro„.ie,.  i,„,„fc. 


~^c^ 


(  '2\o  ) 


and  I  went 
ar  the  road, 
I  we  jirked* 
neat,  which 
t. 

lad  to  read, 

Whilst  in 

"s,  which  I 


id 


slowly, 
)uffaloe 

r  inhabi- 
sr  a  slow 


road,  I  was  afraid  the  Indians  niiglit  be  passing  that 
way,  and  discover  my  fire-j)lace,  therefore  I  moved  otf 
some  distance,  where  I  remahied  until  I  killed  an  elk. 
As  my  foot  was  yet  sore,  I  concluded  that  I  would  stay 
here  until  it  was  healed,  lest  by  travelling  too  soon,  it 
might  again  be  inflamed. 

In  a  few  weeks  after,  I  proceeded  on,  and  in  October, 
I  arrived  in  Carolina.  I  had  now  been  eleven  months 
in  the  wilderness,  and  during  this  time,  I  neither  saw 
bread,  money,  women,  or  spirituous  liijuors ;  and  three 
months  of  which  I  saw  none  of  the  human  species,  ex- 
cept Jamie. 

When  I  came  into  the  settlement,  my  clothes  were 
almost  worn  out,  and  the  boy  had  nothing  on  him  that 
ever  was  spun.  He  had  buck-skin  leggins,  mockasons, 
and  breecli-clout — a  bear-skin  dressed  witli  the  hair  on, 
which  he  belted  about  him,  and  a  racoon-skin  cap.  I 
had  not  travelled  far,  after  I  came  in  before  I  was 
strictly  examined  by  the  inhabitants.  I  told  them  the 
truth,  and  where  I  came  from.  Sec.  but  my  story  ap- 
peared so  strange  to  them,  that  they  did  not  believe  me. 
They  said  that  they  had  never  heard  of  any  one  coming 
through  the  mountains  from  the  mouth  of  Tennessee, 
and  if  any  one  would  undertake  such  a  journey,  surely 
no  man  would  lend  him  his  slave.  They  said  that 
they  thought  that  all  I  had  told  them  were  lies,  and  on 
suspicion  they  took  me  into  custody,  and  set  a  guard 
over  me. 

While  I  was  confined  here,  I  met  witii  a  reputable 
old  acquaintance,  who  voluntarily  became  my  voucher, 
and  also  told  me  of  a  number  of  my  acquaintances  that 
now  lived  near  this  place,  wlio  had  moved  from  Penn- 
sylvania.   On  this  l^eing  made  public,  I  was  liberated. 


I: 


I 


m 


mm 


«■ 


;lf 


i   i 


(  216) 

I  went  to  a  magistrate,  and  obtained  a  pass,  and  one  ot 
my  old  acquaintances  made  me  a  present  of  a  shirt.  I 
then  cast  away  my  old  rags,  and  all  the  clothes  I  now  had 
was  an  old  beaver  hat,  buck-skin  leggins,  mockasons,  and 
a  new  shirt;  also  an  old  blanket,  which  I  commonly 
carried  on  my  back  in  good  weather.  Being  thus 
equipped,  I  marched  on  with  my  white  shirt  loose,  and 
Jamie  with  his  bear-skin  about  him : — myself  appearing 
white,  and  Jamie  very  black,  ahirmed  the  dogs  wherever 
we  came,  so  that  they  barked  violently.  The  people 
frequently  came  out,  and  asked  me  where  we  came  from, 
&c.  I  told  them  the  truth,  but  they  for  the  most  part 
suspected  my  story,  and  I  generally  had  to  show  them 
my  pass.  In  this  way  I  came  on  to  Fort  Chissel,  where 
I  left  Jamie  at  Mr.  Morton's  negro-fjuarter,  according  to 
promise.  I  went  from  thence  to  Mr.  George  Adams's, 
on  Reed  Creek,  where  I  had  lodged,  and  where  I  had 
left  my  clothes  as  I  was  going  out  from  home.  When 
I  dressed  myself  in  good  clothes,  and  mounted  on  horse- 
back, no  man  ever  asked  me  for  a  pass;  therefore  I 
concluded  that  a  horse  thief,  or  even  a  robber,  might 
pass  without  interruption,  provided  he  was  only  well 
dressed,  whereas  the  sliabby  villian  would  be  immedi- 
ately detected. 

I  returned  home  to  Conococheague,  in  the  fall  17G7. 
When  I  arrived,  I  found  that  my  wife  and  friends  had 
despaired  of  ever  seeing  me  again,  as  they  had  heard 
that  I  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  my  horse  brought 
into  one  of  the  Cherokee  towns. 

In  the  year  17()*>,  the  Indians  again  made  incursions 
on  the  frontiers;  yet  the  traders  continued  carrying 
goods  and  warlike  stores  to  tliem.  The  frontiers  took 
the  alarm,  and  a  number  of  persons  collected,  destroyed 


I  '^JCt: 


d  one  ot 
shirt.     I 
now  had 
ions,  and 
mmonly 
ng  tlius 
ose,  and 
)pearing 
t^herever 
>  l)eo})le 
le  from, 
ost  part 
w  til  em 
1,  where 
'ding  to 
dams's, 
I  had 
When 
1  horse- 
fore  I 
might 
|ly  well 
imedi- 

17G7. 
IS  had 
heard 
(ought 

rsiona 

rying 

took 

[oyed 


(  217  ) 

and  plundered  a  qunntity  of  their  powder,  lead,  etc.  ia 
Bedford  county.  Shortly  after  this,  some  of  these  per- 
sons, with  others,  were  apprehended  and  laid  in  irons 
in  the  guard-house  in  Fort  Bedford,  on  suspicion  of  be- 
ing the  perpetrators  of  this  crime. 

Though  I  did  not  altogether  approve  of  the  conduct 
of  this  new  club  of  black-boys,  yet  I  concluded  that 
they  should  not  lie  in  irons  in  the  guard-house,  or  re- 
main in  confinement,  by  arbitrary  or  military  power. 
I  resolved,  therefore,  if  possible,  to  release  them,  if  they 
even  should  be  tried  by  the  civil  law  nfter wards.  I 
collected  eighteen  of  my  old  black-boys,  that  I  had  seen 
tried  in  the  Indian  war,  ttc.  I  did  not  desire  a  large 
party,  lest  they  should  be  too  much  alarmed  at  Bedford, 
and  accordingly  ])repare  for  us.  We  marched  along 
the  public  road  in  daylight,  and  made  no  secret  of  our 
design : — We  told  those  whom  we  met,  that  we  were  go- 
ing to  take  Fort  Bedford,  which  appeared  to  them  a  very 
unlikely  story.  Before  this  I  made  it  known  to  one 
William  Thompson  a  man  whom  I  could  trust,  and 
who  lived  there:  him  I  employed  as  a  spy,  and  sent  him 
along  on  horse-back,  before,  with  orders  to  meet  me  at  a 
certain  place  near  Bedford,  one  hour  before  day.  The 
next  day  a  little  before  sun-set,  we  encamped  near  the 
crossings  of  Juniata,  about  fourteen  miles  from  Bedford, 
and  erected  tents,  as  though  we  intended  staying  all 
night,  and  not  a  man  in  my  company  knew  to  the  con- 
trary, save  myself  Knowing  that  they  would  hearthie 
in  Bedford,  and  wishing  it  to  be  the  case,  I  thought  to 
surprize  them  by  stealing  a  march. 

As  the  moon  rose  about  eleven  o'clock,  I  ordered  my 
boys  to  march,  and  we  went  on  at  the  rate  of  five  miles 
an  hour,  until  we  met  Thompson  at  the  place  appointed. 


;• 


( 


n 


li 


II 


^  m 


1 
,1 


(  218  ; 

upon  guard.     He  said  they  knew      ""^"'"^  "''"^  "<=„ 
™acle  game  of  the  notion  of  etZ        '""^^''  ""''  ""b' 
cue  tl,e  prisoners,  but  W  d  f '?  """"  ~"""g  '"  -- 
««rd8  'hemiddleof  tl,ed,fv   Ar/u'''"'"  ™  "»«'  '»- 
open  ?    He  said  it  was  th  n  sL    hf,  l"  ''"'^^'"^  >™« 
would  open  it  as  usual  at  dL  li  K,     '  ^  '''P«='^d  they 
no  danger.     I  ,hen  n^ved  ™ vt  ' ""  *''^"  "P-^^hended 
the  bani^s  of  Juniata,  where  we  T"  ""'"'^'^  "P  ""^er 
hundred  yards  from'  ZlnJl  'Tft''  "''"""'»'' 
•nen  to  keep  a  profound  silence  tnti.  °^'*''^'  «>« 

then  sent  oir  Thompson  acaTn  1       '  ""  «"' """  ''■    I 
returned,  and  (old  I  thalThe   '"  "'^^^    ^'  '■"^""e'-t  he 
oentinels  were  standing  „nthe„!r  7^"',T'''  """  «>^ee 
ak-ng  a  morning  dram  "nd  tlf  ^  ^''"''**S'""^'J«  "ere 
'«  one  plaee.    I  then  "Lcludld^  """', '?""'""«  '"either 
tow  Thompson  to  run  betret^  ™^  ' '"'°  ""''""t.-nd 
wth  all  our  might,  and  asH  wasl  ',"'"'•    ^^'  ''"> 
oentmels  scarcely  saw  us  !«.  ^         ''^  '""'■°'UK.  the 
and  took  possession  of  "hVJm      ZT  "'"""  ">«  «»'«- 
'ng,  two  of  them  discharldT;-  "'  "■"  ""^^^  enter- 

believe  they  aimed  at  u?Veh:nf"%'''""^''  '  "^  "»' 
«urpri.ed  the  town,  though  omeofl"  *""•' "'"<^'' 
pleased  with  the  news      W  "'^"  were  well 

take  the  irons  off  th  rrison^^""'"?;," ^'' "  """^-^^ith  to 
This,  I  believe,  was  the  Si" h"?  "T''"'  P'"™- 
was  taken  by  what  they  «  led  4  ' '"  ^"''"<"'-  that 

Some  lin.e  after  thk  I       t    ^""=''" '''''els. 

order  to  survey  some  located  rand%^rr^  '''"""'^'  "' 
^  ouhogany.  As  I  passed  nl  n  I^  °"  """^  "«»'•  the 
walking  and  leading  mvt.^;Yw"''  "''"''  ^  ''"s 
-n  on  horseback,  fike-  ti^ZTof  ^e^^^ 


frequently 
thirty  men 
r,  and  only 
ling  to  rfH- 
is  until  to- 
le  gate  was 
ected  they 
^reh  ended 
up  under 
about  one 
dered  the 
into  it.    I 
y-lighthe 
and  three 
ards  were 
f  together 
>fort,«nd 
We  ran 
Ining.  the 
the  gate, 
're  enter- 
do  not 
which 
ire  well 
5mith  to 
e  place, 
ca,  that 

ard,  in 
ear  the 

I  was 
y  some 

as  lied 


(219) 

my  name,  and  on  telling  it,  they  immediately  pulled 
out  their  pistols,  and  presented  them  at  me,  calling  upon 
me  to  deliver  myself,  or  I  was  a  dead  man.  I  stepped 
back,  presented  my  rifle,  and  told  them  to  stand  off.  One 
of  them  snapped  a  pistol  at  me,  and  another  was  pre- 
paring to  shoot,  when  I  fired  my  piece: — one  of  them 
also  fired  near  the  same  time,  and  one  of  my  fellow  trav- 
ellers fell.  The  assailants  then  rushed  up,  and  as  my 
gun  was  empty,  they  took  and  tied  me.  I  charged  them 
with  killing  ray  fellow  traveller,  and  told  them  he  was  a 
man  that  I  had  accidently  met  with  on  the  road,  that  had 
nothing  to  do  with  the  public  quarrel.  They  asserted 
that  I  had  killed  him.  I  told  them  that  my  gun  blowed, 
or  made  a  slow  fire — that  I  had  her  from  my  face  before 
she  went  off,  or  I  would  not  have  missed  my  mark ;  and 
from  the  position  my  piece  was  in  when  it  went  off,  it 
was  not  likely  that  my  gun  killed  this  man,  yet  I  ac- 
knowledged I  was  not  certain  that  it  was  not  so.  They 
then  carried  me  to  Bedford,  laid  me  in  irons  in  the  guard- 
house, summoned  a  jury  of  the  opposite  party,  and  held 
an  inquest.  The  jury  brought  me  in  guilty  of  wilful 
murder.  As  they  were  afraid  to  keep  me  long  in  Bed- 
ford, for  fear  of  a  rescue,  they  sent  me  privately  through 
the  wilderness  to  Carlisle,  where  I  was  laid  in  heavy 
irons. 

Shortly  after  I  came  here,  we  heard  that  a  number  ot 
my  old  black-boys  were  coming  to  tear  down  the  jail.  I 
told  the  sheriff  that  I  would  not  bo  rescued,  as  I  knew 
that  the  indictment  was  v,'iong;  therefore  I  wished  to 
stand  my  trial.  As  I  had  found  the  black-boys  to  be  al- 
ways under  good  command,  I  expected  I  could  prevail 
on  them  to  return,  and  thorefore  wished  to  write  to 
them — to  this  the  sheriff  readily  agreed.  I  wrote  a  let- 
ter to  them,  with  irons  on  my  hands,  which  was  imme- 


fj] 


ii  : 


f- 


V,  f. 


(  220  ) 
but  I  could  prevail  on  them  J.    •' ^ '"'"'« "" doubt 

and  told  them  the  weatestT,     V"" '''"''  intentions 

™e,  would  i„-  ;„  ^.,'  ^f ';^'  'r°^  they  could  confer  u^n 

><»»  rt.,/„,7  .«rf  ,.- :    \."'^,  ""^  °ne  re<,ue«t  to  ,oUhXw 

and  withdrew.     While  T  ,  aTtl^'",."''-^  *'"'y  combed! 

taken  o.;r        ,,^,  ^.^^  nc       ,X'''T'  '"^  '""«-«"' 

»efore  tins  party  -   -iv    '       -       '^     "n. 
abont  three  hundred  mo^J  on  ;.:*""''"'«"^'  ">''y  "et 
assistance,  and  were  resolved  nf/"^'  """'"^  '»  their 
tnrned,  and  all  came  together  "oo!  ^r''  "'^^  *™ 
they  gave  for  coming  again  1,  f  '    '^^'^  ^^ason 

that  the  government  wafT'.'  f"""""  "'^^  thought 
not  get  a  fair  trial ;  b^  m^f ."  ndf  "',  ""•  "> ''  ^  ™»  ' 
aga.n  prevailed  on  them  to  r    u  '  il'      "^^^'^ '"gather, 

^t  this  time  the  nnhl.V  "  P^^^e- 

these  occurrences    '^h    foS-r  ""'^"'  P^''^  ""ed  with 
Pennsylvania  Ga.tte,  xltlSV^^Jrito  ''"'"  "  ^ 

oa.2^;,",r::;^^'^-^^^^^^^^^^ 

"Your  humble  servant, 

"  WILLIAM  SMITH." 


\i 


)ur 


(  221  ) 

"Whereas,  in  this  Gazette  of  September  28th,  1769, 
there  appeared  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Bedford,  Sep- 
tember 12th,  1769,  relative  to  James  Smith,  as  being 
apprehended  on  suspicion  of  being  a  black-boy,  then 
killing  his  companion,  &c.  I  look  upon  myself  as  bound 
by  all  the  obligations  of  truth,  justice  to  character  and 
to  the  world,  to  set  the  matter  in  a  true  lijiht;  by  which, 
I  hope  the  impartial  world  will  be  enabled  to  obtain  a 
more  just  opinion  of  the  present  scheme  of  acting  in  this 
end  of  the  country,  as  also  to  form  a  true  idea  of  the 
truth,  candor,  and  ingenuity  of  the  author  of  the  said 
extract,  in  stating  that  matter  in  so  partial  a  light.  The 
state  of  the  case,  (which  can  be  made  appear  by  unde- 
niable evidence,)  was  this :  "  James  Smith,  (who  is  styled 
the  principal  ring-leader  of  the  black-boys,  by  the  said 
author,)  together  with  his  younger  brother  and  brother- 
in-law,  were  going  out  in  order  to  survey  and  improve 
their  land  on  the  waters  of  Youghoghany,  and  as  the 
time  of  their  return  was  long,  they  took  with  them  tiieir 
arms,  and  horses  loaded  with  the  necessaries  of  life; 
and  as  one  of  Smith's  brothers-in-law  was  an  artist 
in  surveying,  he  had  also  with  him  the  instruments  for 
that  business.  Travelling  on  the  way,  within  about 
nine  miles  of  Bedford,  they  overtook  and  joined  com- 
pany with  one  Johnson  and  Moorhead,  who  likewise 
had  horses  loaded,  part  of  which  loading  was  licjuor, 
and  part  seed  wheat,  their  intentions  being  to  make  im- 
provements on  their  lands  When  they  arrived  at  the 
parting  of  the  road  on  this  side  Bedford,  the  company 
separated,  one  part  going  through  the  town,  in  order  to 
get  a  horse  shod,  were  apprehended,  and  put  under  con- 
finement, but  for  what  crime  they  knew  not,  and  treated 
in  a  manner  utterly  inconsistent  with  tlie  laws  of  their 


U 


I 


i 


V" 


{■ 


ilii 


i 

I 


lii^ 


i 


(  222  ) 

country,  and  the  liberties  of  Englishmen : — Whilst  the 
other  part,  viz.  James  Smith,  Johnson  and  Moorhead, 
taking  along  the  other  road,  were  met  by  John  Holmes, 
Esq.  to  whom  James  Smith  spoke  in  a  friendly  manner, 
but  received  no  answer.  Mr.  Holmes  hasted,  and  gave 
an  alarm  in  Bedford,  from  whence  a  party  of  men  were 
sent  in  pursuit  of  them ;  but  Smith  and  his  companions 
not  having  the  least  thought  of  any  such  measures  being 
taken,  (why  should  they  ?)  travelled  slowly  on.  After 
they  had  gained  the  place  where  the  roads  joined,  they 
delayed  until  the  other  part  of  their  company  should 
come  up.  At  this  time  a  number  of  men  came  riding, 
like  men  travelling;  they  asked  Smith  his  name,  which 
he  told  them — on  which  they  immediately  assaulted 
him  as  highway-men,  and  with  presented  pistols,  com- 
manded him  to  surrender,  or  he  was  a  dead  man ;  upon 
which  Smith  stepped  back,  asked  them  if  they  were 
high  way -men,  charging  them  at  the  same  time  to  stand 
off,  when  immediately,  Robert  George,  (one  of  the  assail- 
ants,) snapped  a  pistol  at  Smith's  head,  and  that  before 
Smith  offered  to  shoot,  (which  said  George  himself 
acknowledged  upon  oath  ;)  whereupon  Smith  presented 
his  gun  at  another  of  the  assailants,  who  was  preparing 
to  shoot  him  with  his  pistol.  The  said  assailant  having 
a  hold  of  Johnson  by  the  arm,  two  shots  were  fired,  one 
by  Smith's  gun,  the  other  from  a  pistol,  so  quick  as  just 
to  be  distinguishable,  and  Johnson  fell.  After  which? 
Smith  was  taken  and  carried  into  Bedford,  where  John 
Holmes,  Esq.,  the  informer,  held  an  inquest  on  the 
corpse,  one  of  the  assailants  being  as  an  evidence,  (nor 
was  there  any  other  troubled  about  the  matter,)  Smith 
was  brought  in  guilty  of  wilful  murder,  and  so  com- 
mitted to  prison.     But  a  jealousy  arising  in  the  breasts 


(  223  ) 


1 


3ts 


of  many,  that  the  inquest,  either  through  inadvertency, 
ignorance  or  some  other  default,  was  not  so  fair  as  it 
ought  to  be:  William  Deny,  coroner  of  the  county,  upon 
requisition  made,  thought  proper  to  reexamine  the 
matter,  and  summoning  a  jury  of  unexceptionable  men, 
out  of  three  townships — men  whose  candor,  probity, 
and  honesty  is  unquestionable  with  all  who  are  ac- 
quainted with  them,  and  having  raised  the  corpse,  held 
an  inquest  in  a  solemn  manner,  during  three  days.  In 
the  course  of  their  scrutiny  they  found  Johnson's  shirt 
blacked  about  the  bullet-hole,  by  the  powder  of  the 
charge  by  which  he  was  killed,  whereupon  they  examined 
into  the  distance  Smith  stood  from  Johnson  when  he 
shot,  and  one  of  the  assailants  being  admitted  to  oath, 
swore  to  the  respective  spots  of  ground  they  both  stood 
on  at  that  time,  which  the  jury  measured,  and  found  to 
be  twenty-three  feet,  nearly  ;  then,  trying  the  experiment 
of  shooting  at  the  same  shirt,  both  with  and  against  the 
wind,  and  at  the  same  distance,  found  no  effects,  not 
the  least  stain  from  the  powder,  on  the  shirtt — And  let 
any  person  that  pleases,  make  the  experiment,  and  I 
will  venture  to  affirm  he  shall  find  that  powder  will  not 
stain  at  half  the  distance  above  mentioned,  if  shot  out 
of  a  rifle  gun,  which  Smith's  was.  Upon  the  whole,  the 
jury,  after  the  most  accurate  exiiinination  and  mature 
deliberation,  brought  in  their  verdict  that  some  one  of  the 
assailants  themselves  must  necessarily  have  been  tlie 
perpetrators  of  the  murder. 

"  I  have  now  represented  the  matter  in  its  true  and 
genuine  colors,  and  which  I  will  abide  by.  I  only  beg 
liberty  to  make  a  few  remarks  and  reflections  on  the 
above  mentioned  extract.  The  author  says,  "  James 
Smith,  with  two  others  in  company,  passed  round  the 


i 


■  i' 


n 


M 


C  224  ) 

town,  without  touching,"  hy  which  it  is  plain  he  would 
insinuate,  and  make  the  public  believe  that  Smith,  and 
that  part  of  the  company,  had  taken  some  bye  road, 
which  is  utterly  false,  for  it  was  the  king's  high-way,  and 
the  straightest,  that  through  Bedford  being  something 
to  the  one  side;  nor  would  the  other  part  of  the  com- 
pany have  gone  through  the  town,  but  for  the  reason 
already  given.  Again,  the  author  says,  that  "  four  men 
were  sent  in  pursuit  of  Smith  and  his  companions,  who 
overtook  them  about  five  miles  from  Bedford,  and  com- 
manded them  to  surrender,  on  which  Smith  presented 
his  gun  at  one  of  the  men,  who  was  struggling  with  his 
companion,  fired  it  at  him,  and  shot  his  companion 
through  the  back."  Here  I  would  just  remark  again, 
the  unfair  and  partial  account  given  of  this  matter  by 
the  author ;  not  a  word  mentioned  of  George's  snapping 
his  pistol  before  Smith  offered  to  shoot,  or  of  another  of 
the  assailants  actually  firing  his  pistol,  though  he  con- 
fessed himself  afterwards,  he  had  done  so ;  not  the  least 
mention  of  the  company's  baggage,  which,  to  men  in 
the  least  open  to  a  fair  enquiry,  would  have  been  suffi- 
cient proof  of  the  innocence  of  their  intentions.  Must 
not  an  efiusive  blush  overspread  the  face  of  the  partial 
jepresenter  of  facts,  when  he  finds  the  veil  he  had 
thrown  over  truth  thus  pulled  aside,  and  she  exposed 
to  naked  view?  Suj)pose  it  should  be  granted  that 
Smith  shot  the  man,  (which  is  not,  and  I  presume 
never  can  be  proven  to  be  the  case,)  I  would  only  ask, 
was  he  not  on  his  own  defence?  Was  he  not  publicly 
assaulted?  Was  he  not  charged,  at  the  peril  of  his  life, 
to  surrender,  without  knowing  for  what?  No  warrant 
being  shown  him,  or  any  declaration  made  of  their 
authority.    And  seeing  these  things  are  so,  would  any 


(  225  ) 


he  would 
'mith,  and 

bye  road, 
-way,  find 
ioruethinfj 

the  coin- 
he  reason 
four  men 
ions,  wlio 
and  com- 
jresented 
with  his 
mpanion 
"k  again, 
latter  by 
napping 
lother  of 

he  con- 
he  least 
men  in 
sn  suffi- 
Must 

partial 

le  had 
xi)osed 

d  that 

esume 

y  ask, 

iblicly 

is  life, 

irrant 
their 

I  any 


judicious  man,  any  person  in  the  least  acquainted  with 
the  laws  of  the  land,  or  morality,  judge  him  guilty  of 
wilful  murder?  But  I  humbly  presume,  every  one  who 
has  an  opportunity  of  seeing  this,  will  by  this  time  be 
convinced,  that  the  proceedings  against  8mith  were 
truly  unlawful  and  tyranical,  perhaps  unparalleled  by 
any  instance  in  a  civilized  nation;  for  to  endeavor  to 
kill  a  man  in  the  apprehending  of  him,  in  order  to 
bring  him  to  trial  for  a  fact,  and  that  too  on  a  supposed 
one,  is  undoubtedly  beyond  all  bounds  of  law  or  govern- 
ment. 

"  If  the  author  of  the  extract  thinks  I  have  treated 
him  unfair,  or  that  I  have  advanced  any  thing  he  can 
controvert,  let  him  come  forward  as  a  fair  antagonist, 
and  make  his  defence,  and  I  will,  if  called  upon,  vin- 
dicate all  that  I  have  advanced  against  him  or  his 
abettors. 

"WILLIAM  SMITH." 

I  remained  in  prison  four  months,  and  during  this 
time  I  often  thought  of  those  that  were  confined  in  the 
time  of  the  persecution,  who  declared  their  prison  was 
converted  into  a  palace.  I  now  learned  what  this  meant, 
as  I  never  since,  or  before,  experienced  four  months  of 
ecjual  happiness. 

When  the  supreme  court  sat,  I  was  severely  prosecuted. 
At  the  commencement  of  my  trial,  the  judges,  in  a  very 
unjust  and  arbitrary  manner,  rejected  several  of  my 
evidences;  yet,  as  Robert  George  (one of  those  who  was 
in  the  fray  when  I  was  taken)  swore  in  court  that  he 
snapped  a  pistol  at  me  Ijefore  I  shot,  and  a  concurrence 
of  corroborating  circumstances,  amounted  to  strong  pre- 
sumptive evidence,  that  it  could  not  possibly  be  my  gun 


f 


!i 


( 


'I 


(  226  ) 

that  killed  Johrmnn  fk    • 

■n  their  verdicrNTGK''''-'''f'»«''".''~ught 
d«=Iared  that  not  one  of  tht  il^   >?'  f."'«  J"''"''^  'hen 
office  above  a  constable     NoS^"',*^  "'''  '""''  ""y 
>1  ■natureddcclaration,«omeofTht,       ''■"«  this  proud, 
filled  honorable  places   anrf  I  •'1""^'"™  afterwards 

ne^tyear,  and  sat  on  Ihe  I      ?f '"■  ""«  elected  the 

and  afterwards  I  serveVinthtr'"  ^^'""""l  ^'unty 
»oreland  county.  "  ""^  ''°"<'  ""ee  yearn  in  Wesl' 

■in  the  vear  17"'j 

Ihough  at-tbis  tim'e tl,: wM te„fof "  ""  «o„,n>enced. 
The  prospect  of  this  te  r  fi^/.^'r^''*  ">«  "Kgresso,^ 
'nso»uch  thatthegreaterp  rtontbeTl''"  inhabitants, 
fled  o,„  the  n,„u„,ai„,  ,J;,    »«  "  e  OW  waters,  either 
As  the  state  of  Pennsvlv„„T         '      """ecled  into  forls 
">«y  at  this  time  apS  :7'''^'"en,led  great  dan"  • 
was  then  calied  the  PeS:  '„h  V"*'""  "^^'  ^^a 
I  could  mise  men  that  woTu  "''•    ^^  'hey  knew 

seemed  to  lay  asidthr  former"  ""^''l-^Po-.  the^ 
In  the  year  177r  t  ^"^  'nveteracy. 

Pennsylvania  assoZLrwrnr  "•  "^^  '"  ">« 
ence  was  declared,  I  was  elelr  '^'""><=an  independ- 

vention  in  WestmoreS  c^?   f  "  """"'""•  '"'  'he  eon- 
and  of  the  assemb^ Ts  ,„n:i"'f'^''''^"^P™nsylvania 

While  I  attended  the  a!se„t>  ^'T'"^  '"  «>•'"«. 
year  1777, 1  saw  i„  the  strTeT  s/m^  T'"'''"^^'^' '"  the 
their  way  ,o  the  Jerseys,  a^a  L ^  «"-  ''°^''  °" 
desired  me  to  go  with  them-rne,t  ^""^''' ""d  they 
leave  of  absence,  in  orderrh/i^  ""''''  *''«  l-onse  for 
was  granted  me'.  We'ltc  fd7„rt^r^.-hich 
*  A  board  of .        .   .  '^^''''^^^''  ^nd 


t 


(  227  ) 

went  before  General  Washington's  army,  way-laid  the 
road  at  Rocky  Hill,  attacked  about  two  hundred  of  the 
British,  and  with  thirty -six  men  drove  them  out  of  the 
woods  into  a  large  open  field.  After  this,  we  attacked 
a  party  that  was  guarding  the  officers  baggage,  and  took 
the  waggon  nnd  twenty-two  Hessians ;  and  also  re- took 
some  of  our  continental  soldiers  which  they  had  with 
them.  In  a  few  days  we  killed  and  took  more  of  the 
British,  than  was  of  our  party.  At  tliis  time  I  took  the 
camp  fever,  and  was  carried  in  a  stajje  waggon  to  Bur- 
lington, where  I  lay  until  I  recovered.  When  I  look 
sick,  my  companion,  Miijor  James  M'Conmion,  took 
command  of  the  party,  and  had  greater  success  than  I 
had.  If  every  officer  and  his  party  that  lifted  arms 
against  the  English,  had  fought  with  the  same  success 
that  Major  M'Common  did,  we  would  hav"  made  short 
work  of  the  British  war. 

When  I  returned  to  Philadelphia,  I  applied  to  the  as- 
sembly for  leave  to  raise  a  battalion  of  riflemen,  which 
they  appeared  very  willing  to  grant  Wut  said  they  could 
not  do  it,  as  the  power  of  raising  nicn  and  commission- 
ing officers,  were  at  that  time  committed  to  General 
Washington ;  therefore  they  advised  me  to  apply  to  his 
excellency.  The  following  is  a  true  copy  of  a  letter  of 
recommendation  which  I  received  at  this  time,  from  the 
council  of  safety : 


"Sir, 


"IN  COUNCIL  OF  SAFETY, 

^^Philadelphia,  February  \Oth,  1777. 


"Application  has  been  made  to  us  by  James  Smith, 
Esq.,  of  Westmoreland,  a  gentleman  well  acquainted 
with  the  Indian  customs,  and  their  manners  of  carrying 


v 


I 


I: 


(  228  "i 

•ng  the  enemy  in  theirZZesLT°''"'  '"^  '''"^'^ 
think  two  or  three  hundred  1  ^•'""P'"^"*^-     We 

very  useful.  Should  yt'  ~  "">'-«/.  ™ight  be 
or«n,o„,  and  direet  such  a  oorns  „7  ^  "^  '''^  ^'""e 
take  proper  measures  for  raS.h  '^^'™«'.  we  will 

fers  of  this  State,  and  foffor*'    .    """  °°  ""e  fron- 

-vour  excellency  shall  give  rtCf:'.'"  "^'^""'""^  »« 
"  7T)  A/o        7,  ^^®  matter. 

^0  /iis  excellency  General  Wr,  a  • 
u-Yh    f  "^^neral  Washington:' 

Afterth-r  "'^'^'''•^^^^^LLi^,,^^,, 

-Mltar?j;:r''''"""'-'--^-..endati„n 

^aZVn^rCcrini"!:^^^^^^^^^^     certify  that 
was  taken  prisoner  by  thelndhn!^-       ^^  "^t^o^efand.) 
fore  General  Braddock'sdef^r ','?>""  "^P"''''""  ^e- 
fen,a,ned  with  them  untilthe  y^a'/'^V""/"^'  »"'l 
he  served  as  ensign,  in  the  yeaflTs         '■""''  "'^"^  "'^ 
the  provmce  of  I'ennsylvanh    '    ,      '  T^''  ">*  Pay  of 
year  1764,  and  as  captoi  ;  ^'wf  ""  ^'Ti^"""!,  in  the 
-.htary  officer,  he  hassus  a  ne]  f  'oT  .'"''  """  ^  " 
we  do  recommend  him  .,.  .,  "      ''^'""lcharactcr;_And 
the  Indian's  methoror^C":''/""^"'''"''''' ^^^ 

'■-»-.  onegai,y.iT^;::::-:%«4opinU 


» 


(  229  ) 

der  our  hands  at  Philadelphia,  this  13th  day  of  March, 
1777. 


William  Duffield,  esq. 
John  Piper,  col. 
William  Peppei\  lieut.  col. 
John  Proctor,  col. 
William  Parker,  capt. 
Joseph  Armstrong,  col. 
Samuel  Pattoa,  capt.^^ 


m- 


7hom/i8  Paxion,  capt. 

David  Rohh,  esq. 

William  AP  Comb, 

James  APClane,  esq. 

Jonathan  Hoge,  esq. 

Robert  Elliot, 

Robert  Peebles,  lieut.  col. 

William  Lyon,  esq. 

With  these,  and  some  other  letters  of  recommendation, 
which  I  have  not  now  in  my  possession,  I  went  to  his 
excellency,  who  lay  at  Morristown.  Though  General 
Washington  did  not  fall  in  with  the  scheme  of  white 
men  turning  Indians,  yet  he  j)roposed  giving  me  a  major's 
place  in  a  battalion  of  rifle-men  already  raised.  I  thanked 
the  general  for  this  proposal ;  but  as  I  entertained  no  high 
opinion  of  the  colonel  that  I  was  to  serve  under,  and 
with  him  I  had  no  prospect  of  getting  my  old  boys 
again,  I  thought  I  would  be  of  more  use  in  the  cause  we 
were  then  struggling  to  support,  to  remain  with  them  as 
a  militia  officer,  therefore  I  did  not  acce})t  this  ofler. 

In  the  year  1778,  I  received  a  colonel's  commission, 
and  after  my  return  to  Westmoreland,  the  Indiana  made 
an  attack  upon  our  frontiers.  I  then  raised  men  and 
pursued  them,  and  the  second  day  we  overtook  and  de- 
feated them.  We  likewise  took  four  scalps,  and  recovered 
the  horses  and  plunder  whicli  they  were  carrying  ofl'. 
At  the  time  of  this  attack.  Captain  John  Hinkston  pur- 
sued an  Indian,  both  their  guns  being  empty,  and  after 
the  fray  was  over,  he  was  missing: — While  we  were  en- 
quiring about  him,  he  came  walking  up,  seemingly  un- 
concerned, with  a  bloody  scalp  in  Ills  hand — lie  had  ])ur- 


i 


i 


} 


\*' 


.1*1 


tn. 


.!■„ 


(  230  ) 

^^ot  Jonsr  after  ihia  r 

^our  hundred  riHe^l'^^Z  etele""""  *"  "'""'"-<' 
<i>an  town  on  French  Crll  '^f^*^'"""  "gainst  the  In- 
vomber,  before  I  received  orders  frTr  "'"'*'""' '°  ^o- 
to  march,  and  then  we  were  no^i  """''"  **'I""«''. 
of  provisions.  We  marlhed^n  H^  """"P"'"'  ""'^  ««"ce 
from  each  other,  t"  f  :te \  ^rt"™'  '"^'^  ■•»<• 
S'de  of  each  column,  that  nTaTred     ^  ""  ""^  '""- 

scattered  order-and  even^-n  h  ^''''''''^'in  'he  rear,  in 
one  rod  apart-andin  "e  f^^ftre  v""?""' """"™  -"« 
"-breast,  in  the  same  manner  of  he  «  """"■' '""'"""' 
joods.    In  ,„,,  „f         "^^of  the  flankers,  scouring  the 

d'ately  to  order  the  men   n  f  *""'"  «'""  ™me- 

this  position  the  IndT"s  couT/ "?  """  '^'^^  ''"^^-n 
«urroundin.  „s,  or  hive  an  on,  ;''""  "'^™«^'^^« ''y 
man  from  eithe;  .i<,e  of  ,h:tr"i?";I^  f  ^'"""""S  ^ 
tre  column  was  to  reinforce  whn;  *''^'  ""^  «<'"■ 

Require  it  most.  WhenTe  eL  "m "i  ''"'  "^^''^'^'^  ^ 
formed  a  hollow  square  rnciudT  l '  °"  ™'='-'»P™ent 
«ercs-on  the  outs  de  o''  the'  ^  "'l'""  *•"'''>'  or  forty 
placed,  whose  business  it  ^ '''?"''  '^'"^  ^^recentinels 

and  see  thatneitherhoVe  ':  b"u,rl^''  '°'  '''o  ^"^-X 
when  encamped  if  ™ „  Z,    ,   ''"""<'''«  " ent  out  :_A  nd 

each  officer  was  mmeditiv  !  ""^  ™""^  ''^  ""  ™«"'y 
out  and  take  trees,  ,«bel^te^?i:f;  ""!  '"'^"  ">  ^^^^ 
they  could  not  take  the  advTn    '      ,    ' ""''  '"  ">''«  ^orm 


w) 


I  face 

form 

us, 

the 


this 


(  '->ai  ) 

"AT  CAMP— OPPOSITE  FORT  PITT, 

''November  2dth,  1778. 

"GENERAL  ORDERS: 

"  A  copy  thereof  is  to  be  given  to  each  captain  and  subaltern, 
and  to  be  read  to  each  company. 

"  You  are  to  march  in  three  columns,  with  flankers  on 
the  front  and  rear,  and  to  keep  a  profound  silence,  and 
not  to  fire  a  gun,  except  at  the  enemy,  without  particular 
orders  for  that  purpose ;  and  in  case  of  an  attack,  let  it 
be  so  ordered  that  every  other  man  only,  is  to  shoot  at 
once,  excepting  on  extraordinary  occasions.  The  one 
half  of  the  men  to  keep  a  reserve  fire,  until  their  com- 
rades load;  and  let  every  one  be  particularly  careful  not 
to  fire  at  any  time  without  a  view  of  the  enemy,  and 
that  not  at  too  great  a  distance.  I  earnestly  urge  the 
above  caution,  as  I  have  known  very  remarkable  and 
grievous  errors  of  this  kind.  You  are  to  encamp  on  the 
hollow  square,  except  the  volunteers,  who,  according  to 
their  own  request,  are  to  encamp  on  the  front  of  the 
square.  A  sufl5cient  number  of  centinels  are  to  be  kept 
round  the  square,  at  proper  distance.  Every  man  is  to 
be  under  arms  at  the  break  of  day,  and  to  parade  oppo- 
site to  their  fire-places,  facing  out,  and  when  the  oflicers 
examine  their  arms,  and  find  them  in  good  order,  and 
give  necessary  directions,  they  are  to  be  dismissed,  with 
orders  to  have  their  arms  near  them,  and  be  always 
in  readiness. 

"Given  by 

"JAMES  SMITH,  rb/onc/." 

In  this  manner,  we  proceeded  on,  to  French  Creek, 
where  we  found  the  Indian  town  evacuated.  I  then 
went  on  further  than  my  orders  called  for,  in  quest  of 


f 


};  m 


I  i 


A 


1^' 

in   ■ 


f 


(  232  ) 

considerable  difficulties  on  ,?  ^^' '""''''  "'^  ™«'  "ith 
scarcity  of  provision'yet  weTv"'  1  '""''  "■^'«-  ^-^ 
cepting  some  that  ga™  out  ^    °"  '"'"  '""•««' «==- 

~r:r  sra!^;  •^"'"-^''  ^  --  -^^^ 

their  own  tongue,  concern.n;  fh    """'"''"'  "^  '^em  in 
fngthem  know  i  was  therT    Th  ^^P«'"««»-n<>t  let- 
watAed  the  movements  olhi^^  """^  ""^  "'•'"  they 
had  left  Port-Pitt,  and  ^Xtsirfh  ''™'i  """  ">^^ 
or  barrens  they  had  a  full  ^JTTJ    "T^'  ">«  ^'a^es 
o»t  hills,  and  computed   he  r       .'™  '^'""  *he  adja- 
thousand.    They  saM    hey     so""?"  *".  ''"  "''»»'  ""e 
both  before  and  after  they  were  ""^  ""'''■  "amps, 

«ould  not  make  an  advantnl     ^''"''  "'"'  '''""«•,  they 

moved  off  from  th.CZTZl  '"^''  ""<'  "'-^f"- 
we  arrived.  "^"  "'"*  hunting  ground  before 

tuc'i^;!'::vrmiles\irvfptt'™;'»"  "-t^-  Ke„. 
was  elected  a  member  nHl,         '    "''  '"  *he  same  year 

vii'e,  to  confer  aZut  .Iptuirf"''""',""'^"'"'  '^'n 
g>nia,-and  from  that  yeTr  until  tb™'"  *'"'  ^"""  "^  ^ir- 
rented  Bourbon  countv     i  W  i      """"  '™»'  ^  '"^I-^- 
memberofthegeneral  a'sse     I       ™"'<^""""  "^  as  a 
I  was  left  a  few  votes  beS      '^'  '"™'"  '""  >'^ars  that 


(  233  ) 


ON  THE  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  IN- 
DIANS. 

The  Indians  are  a  slovenly  people  in  their  dress. 
They  seldom  ever  wash  their  shirts,  and  in  regard  to 
cookery  they  are  exceedinfi;ly  filthy.  When  they  kill  a 
buffaloe  they  Avill  sometimes  lash  the  paunch  of  it  round 
a  sapling,  and  cast  it  into  the  kettle,  boil  it,  and  sup  the 
broth:  though  they  commonly  sliake  it  about  in  cold 
water,  then  boil  and  eat  it. — Notwithstanding  all  this, 
they  are  very  i)olite  in  their  own  way,  and  they  retain 
among  them,  the  essentials  of  good  manners ;  though 
they  have  few  compliments,  yet  they  are  complais- 
ant to  one  another,  and  when  accomj)anied  with  good 
humour  and  discretion,  they  entertain  strangers  in  the 
best  manner  their  circumstances  will  admit.  They  use 
but  few  titles  of  honor.  In  the  military  line,  the  titles 
of  great  men  are  only  captains  or  leaders  of  parties — In 
the  civil  line,  the  titles  are  only  councillors,  chiefs,  or 
.the  old  wise  men.  These  titles  are  never  made  use  of 
in  addressing  any  of  their  great  men.  The  language 
commonly  made  use  of  in  addressing  them  is,  Grand- 
father, Father,  or  Uncle.  They  have  no  such  thing  in 
use  among  them  as  Sir,  Mr.  Madam  or  Mistress — The 
common  mode  of  address,  is,  my  Friend,  Brother,  Cousin, 
or  Mother,  Sister,  itc.  They  pay  great  resi)ect  to  age;  or 
to  the  aged  Fathers  and  Mothers  among  them  of  every 
rank.  No  one  can  arrive  at  any  })lace  of  honor,  among 
them,  but  by  merit.  Either  some  exploit  m  war,  must 
be  performed  before  any  one  can  be  advanced  in  the 
military  line,  or  become  eminent  for  wisdom  before  they 
can  obtain  a  seat  in  council.  It  would  appear  to  the 
Indians  a  most  ridiculous  thing  to  see  a  man  lead  olFa 


)■ 


.i.i.ij. j.im 


■ 


^U 


(  234  ) 

company  of  warrior?,  as  an  officer,  who  had  himself 
never  been  in  a  battle  in  his  life;  even  in  case  of  merit, 
they  are  glow  in  advancing  any  one,  until  they  arrive  at 
or  near  middle  age. 

They  invite  every  one  that  comes  to  their  house,  or 
camp  to  eat,  while  they  have  any  thing  to  give;  and  it  is 
accounted  bad  manners  to  refuse  eating,  when  invited. 
They  are  very  tenacious  of  their  old  mode  of  dressing 
and  painting,  and  do  not  change  their  fashions  as  we  do. 
They  are  very  fond  of  tobacco,  and  the  men  almost  all 
smoke  it  mixed  with  sumach  leaves  or  red  willow  bark, 
pulverized ;  though  they  seldom  use  it  any  other  way. 
They  make  use  of  the  pipe  also  as  a  token  of  love  and 
friendship. 

In  courtship  they  also  differ  from  us.  It  is  a  common 
thing  among  them,  for  a  young  woman,  if  in  love,  to 
make  suit  to  a  young  man;  though  the  first  address  may 
be  by  the  man;  yet  the  ether  is  the  most  common.  The 
squaws  are  generally  very  immodest  in  their  words  and 
actions,  and  will  often  put  the  young  men  to  the  blush. 
The  men  commonly  appear  to  be  [possessed  of  much 
more  modesty  than  the  women ;  yet  I  have  been  ac- 
quainted with  some  young  squaws  that  appeared  really 
modest :  genuine  it  must  be,  a*?  they  were  under  very 
little  restraint  in  the  channel  of  education  or  custom. 

When  the  Indians  meet  one  another,  instead  of  say- 
ing how  do  you  do,  they  commonly  salute  in  the  follow- 
ing manner — you  are  my  friend — the  reply  is,  truly 
friend,  I  am  your  friend — or,  cousin,  you  yet  exist — the 
reply  is,  certainly  I  do. — They  have  their  children  under 
tolerable  command:  seldom  ever  whip  them,  and  their 
common  mode  of  chastising  is,  by  ducking  them  in  cold 
water ;  therefore  their  children  are  more  obedient  in  the 


Mi 


MHI^ 


(  235  ) 

winter  season,  than  they  are  in  the  summer,  though  they 
are  then  not  so  often  ducked.  They  are  a  peaceable 
people,  and  scarcely  ever  wrangle  or  scold,  when  sober; 
but  they  are  very  much  addicted  to  drinking,  and  men 
and  women  will  become  basely  intoxicated,  if  they  can, 
by  any  means,  procure  or  obtain  spirituous  liquor;  and 
then  they  are  commonly  either  extremely  merry  and 
kind,  or  very  turbulent,  ill-humoured  and  disorderly. 


say- 
low- 
ruly 
Mhe 
nder 
heir 
cold 
the 


ON  THEIR  TRADITIONS  AND  RELIGIOUS  SEN- 
TIMENTS. 

As  the  family  that  I  was  adopted  into  was  intermarried 
with  the  Wiandots  and  Ottawas,  three  tongues  were 
commonly  s])oke,  viz.  Caughnewaga,  or  what  the 
French  call  Iroque,  also  the  Wiandot  and  Ottawa ;  by 
this  means  I  had  an  opportunity  of  learning  these  three 
tongues ;  and  I  found  that  these  nations  varied  in  their 
traditions  and  opinions  concerning  religion; — and  even 
numbers  of  the  same  nations  differed  widely  in  their  re- 
ligious sentiments.  Their  traditions  are  vague,  whim- 
sical, romantic,  and  many  of  them  scarce  worth  relating : 
and  not  any  of  them  reach  back  to  the  creation  of  the 
world.  The  Wiandots  comes  the  nearest  to  this.  They 
tell  of  a  squaw  that  was  found  when  an  infant,  in  the 
water  in  a  canoe  made  of  bull-rushes :  this  squaw  became 
a  great  prophetess  and  did  many  wonderful  things ;  she 
turned  water  into  dry  land,  and  at  length  made  this  con- 
tinent, which  was,  at  that  time,  only  a  very  small  island, 
and  but  a  few  Indians  in  it.  Though  they  were  then 
but  few  they  had  not  sufficient  room  to  hunt;  therefore 
this  squaw  went  to  the  water  side,  and  prayed  that  this 
little  island  might  be  enlarged.     The  great  being  then 


1    (- 


■v)l 


'  I 


I  ( 


A 


h 


lid! 


;  r 


(  236  ) 

heard  her  prayer,  and  sent  great  numbers  of  Water  Tor- 
toises and  Muskrats,  which  brought  with  them  mud  and 
other  materials,  for  enlarging  this  island,  and  by  this 
means,  they  say,  it  was  encreased  to  the  size  that  it  now 
remains;  therefore  they  say,  that  the  white  people  ought 
not  to  encroach  upon  them,  or  take  their  land  from  them, 
because  their  great  grand  mother  made  it. — They  say, 
that  about  this  time  the  angels  or  heavenly  inhabitants, 
as  they  call  them,  frequently  visited  them  and  talked 
with  their  forefathers ;  and  gave  directions  how  to  pray, 
and  how  to  appease  the  great  being  when  he  was  offended. 
They  told  them  they  were  to  offer  sacrifice,  burn  tobacco, 
buff*aloe  and  deer  bones;  but  they  were  not  to  burn  bears 
or  racoons  bones  in  sacrifice. 

The  Ottawas  say,  that  there  are  two  great  beings  that 
rule  and  govern  the  universe,  who  are  at  war  with 
each  other;  the  one  they  call  Mancto,  and  the  other 
Matchemaneto.  They  say  that  Maneto  is  all  kindness 
and  love,  and  that  Matchemaneto  is  an  evil  spirit  tliat 
delights  in  doing  mischief;  and  some  of  then  think,  that 
they  are  equal  in  power,  and  therefore  worship  the  evil 
spirit  out  of  a  principle  of  fear.  Others  doubt  which  of 
the  two  may  be  the  most  powerful,  and  therefore  en- 
deavour to  keep  in  favour  with  both,  by  giving  each  of 
them  some  kind  of  worship.  Others  say  that  Maneto 
is  the  first  great  cause  and  therefore  must  be  all-power- 
ful and  supreme,  and  ought  to  be  adored  and  wor- 
shipped; whereas  Matchemaneto  ought  to  be  rejected 
and  dispised. 

Those  of  the  Ottawas  that  worship  the  evil  spirit,  pre- 
tend to  be  great  conjurors.  I  think  if  there  is  any  such 
thing  now  in  the  world  as  witchcraft,  it  is  among  these 
people.     I  have  been  told  wonderful  stories  concerning 


mmt 


mmm 


.^»^«     "Wll*!**" 


*M*i    «   •'  tkM 


en- 

ihof 

(neto 

Iwer- 

^or- 

;ted 

)re- 
luch 
liese 


(  237  ) 

their  proceedings ;  hut  never  was  eye  witness  to  any 
thing  that  appeared  evidently  supernatural. 

Some  of  the  Wiandots  and  Caughnewagas  profess  to 
be  Roman  Catholics;  but  even  these  retain  manv  of  the 
notions  of  their  ancestors.  Those  of  them  who  reject  the 
Roman  Catholic  religion,  hold  that  there  is  one  great 
first  cause,  whom  they  call  Owaneeyo,  that  rules  and 
governs  the  universe,  and  takes  care  of  all  his  creatures, 
rational  and  irrational,  and  gives  them  their  food  in  due 
season,  and  hears  the  i)rayer8  of  all  those  that  call  upon 
him;  therefore  it  is  but  just  and  reasonable  to  pray,  and 
offer  sacrifice  to  this  great  being,  and  do  those  things 
that  are  pleusing  in  his  sight; — but  they  differ  widely 
in  what  is  pleasing  or  displeasing  to  this  great  being. 
Some  hold  that  following  nature  or  their  own  propensities 
is  the  way  to  happiness,  and  cannot  be  displeasing  to  the 
deity,  because  he  delights  in  the  happiness  of  his 
creatures,  and  does  nothing  in  vain,  but  gave  these  dis- 
positions with  a  design  to  lead  to  happiness,  and  there- 
fore they  ought  to  be  followed.  Others  reject  this  opinion 
altogether,  and  ^^ay  that  following  their  own  propensities 
in  this  manner,  is  neither  the  means  of  happiness  nor 
the  way  to  please  the  deity. 

Tecaughretanego  was  of  opinion  that  following  nature 
in  a  limited  sense  was  reasonable  and  right.  He  said 
that  most  of  the  irrational  animals  by  following  their 
natural  propensities,  were  led  to  the  greatest  pitch  of 
happiness  that  their  natures  and  the  world  they  lived 
in  would  admit  of.  He  said  that  mankind  and  the 
rattle  snakes  had  evil  dispositions,  that  led  them  to  injure 
themselves  and  others.  He  gave  instances  of  this.  He 
said  he  had  a  puppy  that  he  did  not  intend  to  raise, 
and  in  order  to  try  an  experiment,  he  tyed  this  puppy 


\\ 


1 1 


(.. 


Sf-1    ' 


(  238  ) 

on  a  pole  and  held  it  to  a  rattlesnake,  which  bit  it 
several  times;  that  he  observed  the  snake  shortly  after 
rolling  about  apparently  in  great  misery,  so  that  it  ap- 
peared to  have  poisoned  itself  as  well  as  the  puppy. 
The  other  instance  he  gave  was  concerning  himself.  He 
said  that  when  he  was  a  young  man,  he  was  very  fond 
of  the  women,  and  at  length  got  the  venereal  disease,  so 
that  by  following  this  propensity,  he  was  led  to  injure 
himself  and  others.  He  said  our  happiness  depends 
on  our  using  our  reason,  in  order  to  suppress  these  evil 
dispositions ;  but  when  our  propensities  neither  lead  us 
to  injure  ourselves  nor  others,  we  might  with  safety 
endulge  them,  or  even  pursue  them  as  the  means  of  hap- 
piness. 

The  Indians  generally,  are  of  opinion  that  there  are 
great  numbers  of  inferior  Deities,  which  they  call  Carrey- 
agaroona,  which  signifies  ihe  Heavenly  Inhabitants. 
These  beings  they  suppose  are  employed  as  assistants, 
in  managing  the  affairs  of  the  universe,  and  in  inspect- 
ing the  actions  of  men;  and  that  even  the  irrational 
animals  are  engaged  in  viewing  their  actions,  and  bear- 
ing intelligence  to  the  Gods.  The  eagle,  for  this  purpose, 
with  her  keen  eye,  is  soaring  about  in  the  day,  and  the 
owl,  with  her  nightly  eye,  perched  on  the  trees  around 
their  camp  in  the  night ;  therefore,  when  they  observe 
the  eagle  or  the  owl  near,  they  immediately  offer  sacri- 
fice, or  burn  tobacco,  that  they  may  have  a  good  report 
to  carry  to  the  Gods.  They  say  that  there  are  also  great 
numbers  of  evil  spirits,  which  they  call  Onasahroona^ 
which  signifies  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Lower  Region. 
These  they  say  are  employed  in  disturbing  the  world, 
and  the  good  spirits  are  always  going  after  them,  and 
setting  things  to  right,  so  that  they  are  constantly  work- 


»^L!iM."y"'!?'.'y*i-* 


(  21^9  ) 


ing  in  opposition  to  each  other.  Some  talk  of  a  future 
state,  but  not  with  any  certainty ;  at  best  their  notions 
are  vague  and  unsettled.  Others  deny  a  future  state 
altogether,  and  say  that  after  death  they  neither  think 
or  live. 

As  the  Caughnewagas  and  the  six  nations  speak  nearly 
the  same  language,  their  theology  is  also  nearly  alike. 
When  I  met  with  the  Shawanees  or  Delawarcs,  as  I 
could  not  speak  their  tongue,  I  spoke  Ottawa  to  them, 
and  as  it  bore  some  resemblance  to  their  langu:ige,  we  un- 
derstood each  other  in  some  common  afiairs ;  butas  I  a  »uld 
only  converse  with  them  very  imperfectly,  I  cannot  from 
my  own  knowledge,  with  any  certainty, give  any  account 
of  their  theological  opinions. 


1% 


rreat 
Una, 
[ion. 
/rid, 
land 
)rk- 


ON  thp:ir  policp;  or  civil  government. 

I  have  often  heard  of  Indian  kings,  but  never  saw 
any. — How  any  term  used  by  the  Indians  in  their  own 
tongue,  for  the  chief  man  of  a  nation,  could  be  rendered 
King,  I  know  not.  The  chief  of  a  nation  is  neither  a 
supreme  ruler,  monarch  or  potentate — He  can  neither 
make  war  or  peace,  leagues  or  treaties — He  cannot  im- 
press soldiers,  or  dispose  of  magazines — He  cannot  ad- 
journ, prorogue  or  dissolve  a  general  assembly,  nor  can 
he  refuse  his  assent  to  their  conclusions,  or  in  any  man- 
ner controul  them — With  them  there  is  no  such  thing  as 
hereditary  succession,  titl'e  of  nobility  or  royal  blood, 
even  talked  of — The  chief  of  a  nation,  even  with  the 
consent  of  his  assembly,  or  council,  cannot  raise  one 
shilling  of  tax  off  the  citizens,  but  only  receive  what 
they  please  to  give  as  free  and  voluntary  donations — The 
chief  of  a  nation  has  to  hunt  for  his  living,  as  any  other 


(  240  ) 


citizen — How  can  they,  with  any  propriety,  be  called 
kings?  I  apprehend  that  the  white  people  were  formerly 
so  fond  of  the  name  of  king?,  and  so  ignorant  of  their 
power,  that  they  concluded  the  chief  man  of  a  nation 
must  be  a  king. 

As  they  are  illiterate,   they  consequently  have  no 
written  code  of  laws.     What  they  execute  as  laws,  are 
either  old  customs,  or  the   immediate  result  of  new 
councils.    Some  of  their  ancient  laws  or  customs  are 
very  pernicious,  and  disturb  the  public  weal.     Their 
vague  law  of  marriage  is  a  glaring  instance  of  this,  as 
the  man  and  his  wife  are  under  no  legal  obligation  to 
live  together,  if  they  are  both  willing  to  part.     They 
have  little  form,  or  ceremony  among  them,  in  matri- 
mony, but  do  like  the  Israelites  of  old — the  man  goes 
in  unto  the  woman,  and  she  becomes  his  wife.     The 
years  of  puberty,  and  the  age  of  consent,  is  about  four- 
teen for  the  women,  and  eighteen  for  the  men.     Before 
I  was  taken  by  the  Indians,  I  had  often  heard  that  in 
the  ceremony  of  marriage,  the  man  gave  the  woman  a 
deer's  leg,  and  she  gave  him  a  red  ear  of  corn,  signifying 
that  she  was  to  keep  him  in  bread,  and  he  was  to  keep 
her  in  meat.     I  inquired  of  them  concerning  the  truth 
of  this,  and  they  said  they  knew  nothing  of  it,  further 
than  that  they  had  heard  it  was  the  ancient  custom 
among    some    nations.      Their   frequent  changing    of 
partners  prevents  proi){igation,  creates  disturbances,  and 
often  occasions  murder  and  bloodshed ;  though  this  is 
commonly  committed  under  tlie  pretence  of  l^eing  drunk. 
Their  impunity  to  crimes  committed  when  intoxii  iite 
with  spirituous  liquors,  or  their  admitting  one 
an  excuse  for  another,  is  a  very  unjust  law  or  .      torn. 


t|! 


■I 


(  241  ) 


lilying 

keep 

truth 

irther 

Listom 

pg    of 

and 

.his  is 

Irunk. 

.tte 

lom. 


The  extremes  they  run  into  in  dividing  tlie  necessaries 
of  life,  are  hurtful  in  the  public  weal ;  though  their 
dividing  meat  when  hunting,  may  answer  a  valuable 
purpose,  as  one  family  may  have  success  one  day,  and 
the  other  the  next ;  but  their  carrying  this  custom  to 
the  town,  or  to  agriculture,  is  striking  at  the  root  of  in- 
dustry; as  industrious  persons  ought  to  be  rewarded, 
and  the  lazy  suffer  for  their  indolence. 

They  have  scarcely  any  penal  laws :  the  principal  pun- 
ishment is  degrading:  even  murder  is  not  punished  by 
any  formal  law,  only  the  friends  of  the  murdered  are 
at  liberty  to  slay  the  murderer,  if  some  atonement  is  not 
made.  Their  not  annexing  penalties  to  their  laws,  is 
perhaps  not  as  great  a  crime,  or  as  unjust  and  cruel,  as 
the  bloody  penal  laws  of  England,  which  we  have  so 
long  shamefully  practised,  and  which  are  in  force  in 
this  state,  until  our  penitentiary  house  is  finished,  which 
is  now  building,  and  then  they  are  to  be  repealed. 

Let  us  also  take  a  view  of  the  advantages  attending 
Indian  police : — They  are  not  oppressed  or  perplexed  with 
expensive  litigation — They  are  not  injured  by  legal  rob- 
bery— They  have  no  splendid  villains  that  make  them- 
selves grand  and  great  upon  other  peoples  labor — 
They  have  neither  church  or  state  erected  as  money- 
making  machines. 


ON  THEIR  DISCIPLINE  AND  METHOD  OF  WAR. 

I  have  often  heard  the  British  officers  call  the  Indians 
the  undisciplined  savages,  which  is  a  capital  mistake — 
as  they  have  all  the  essentials  of  discipline.  They  are 
under  good  command,  and  punctual  in  obeying  orders: 


(  242  ) 


f  I  '> 


'•li 


?: 


I)i 


they  can  act  in  concert,  and  when  their  officers  lay  a 
plan  and  give  orders,  they  will  chearfully  unite  in  put- 
ting all  their  directions  into  immediate  execution ;  and 
by  each  man  observing  the  motion  or  movement  of  his 
right  hand  companion,  they  can  communicate themotion 
from  right  to  left,  and  march  a-breast  in  concert,  and  in 
scattered  order,  though  the  line  may  be  more  than  a 
mile  long,  and  continue,  if  occasion  requires,  for  a  con- 
siderable distance,  without  disorder  or  confusion.  They 
can  perform  various  necessary  mancpuvres,  either  slowly, 
or  as  fast  as  they  can  run:  they  can  form  a  circle,  or 
semi-circle:  the  circle  thev  make  use  of,  in  order  to  sur- 
round  their  enemy,  and  the  semi-circle,  if  the  enemy 
has  a  river  on  one  side  of  thetn.  They  can  also  form  a 
lui'ge  hollow  square,  face  out  and  take  trees:  this  they 
do,  if  their  enemies  are  about  surrounding  ti\em,  to  pre- 
vent being  shot  from  either  side  of  the  tree.  When  they 
go  into  battle,  they  are  not  loaded  or  encumbered  with 
many  clothes,  as  they  commonly  fight  naked,  save  only 
breech-clout,  leggins  and  mockasons.  There  is  no  such 
thing  as  corporeal  punishment  used,  in  ordi'r  to  bring 
them  under  such  good  discipline :  degrading  is  the  only 
chastisement,  and  they  are  so  unanimous  in  this,  that  it 
eftectually  answers  the  purpose.  Their  officers  plan, 
order  and  conduct  matters  until  they  are  brought  into 
action,  and  then  each  man  is  to  fight  as  though  he  was 
to  gain  the  battle  himself.  General  orders  are  com- 
monly given  in  time  of  battle,  either  to  advance  or  re- 
treat, and  is  done  by  a  shout  or  yell,  which  is  well 
understood,  and  then  they  retreat  or  advance  in  concert. 
They  are  generally  well  equipped,  and  exceeding  expert 
and  active  in  the  use  of  arms.  Could  it  be  suj)posed 
that  undisciplined  troops  could  defeat  Cleiierals   lirad- 


1)1 


(  243  ) 

dock,  Grant,  &c.?  It  may  be  said  by  some  that  the 
French  were  also  engaged  in  this  war:  true,  tht'V  were; 
yet  I  know  it  was  the  Indians  that  laid  the  plan,  and 
with  small  assistance  put  it  into  execution.  The  Indians 
had  no  aid  from  the  French,  or  any  other  power,  when 
they  besieged  Fort  Pitt,  in  the  year  1703,  and  cut  off 
the  communication  for  a  considerable  time,  between  that 
post  and  Fort  Loudon,  and  would  have  defeated  (Jen. 
Bouquet's  army,  (who  were  on  the  way  to  raise  the  siege,) 
had  it  not  l)een  for  the  as^^istance  of  the  Virginia  volun- 
teers. Thev  had  no  British  troops  v\  ith  the»  >vhen  thev 
defeated  Colonel  Crawford,  near  the  .Sandusky,  in  the 
time  of  the  American  war  with  Great  Britain;  or  when 
they  defeated  Colonel  Loughrie,  on  the  Ohio,  near  the 
Miami,  on  his  way  to  meet  General  Clarke:  ttiih  was 
also  in  the  time  of  the  British  war.  It  was  the  Indians 
alone  that  defeated  Colonel  Todd,  in  Kentucky,  near 
the  Blue  licks,  in  tlie  year  1782;  and  Colonel  Harmar,. 
betwixt  the  Ohio  and  Lake  Erie,  in  the  year  1700,  and 
General  St.  Clair,  in  tlie  year  1791 ;  and  it  is  said  that 
there  were  more  of  our  men  killed  at  this  defeat,  than 
there  were  in  any  one  battle  during  our  contest  with 
Great  Britain.  They  had  no  aid  when  they  fought  even 
the  Virginia  ritte-men  almost  a  whole  day,  at  the  Great 
Kanhawa,  in  the  year  1774;  and  when  they  found  they 
could  not  prevail  againstthe  Virginians,  the}' made  a  most 
artful  retreat.  Notwithstanding  they  had  the  Ohio  to  cross, 
some  continued  firing,  whilst  otliurs  were  crossing  the 
river;  in  this  manner  they  jiroceeded  until  they  all  got 
over.  l)efore  the  Virgini:>ns  knew  that  they  luul  retreated  ; 
and  in  this  retreat,  they  carried  off  all  their  wounded. 
In  most  of  the  foregoing  defeats,  they  fought  with  an 
inferior  number,  though  in  this,  I  believe  ii  was  not  the 
case. 


^ 


(  244  ) 


Rs      MV 


I*      ' 


Nothing  can  be  more  unjustly  represented,  than  the 
different  accounts  we  have  had  of  their  number  from 
time  to  time,  both  b^'  their  own  computations  and  that 
of  the  British.  While  I  was  among  them,  I  saw  the 
account  of  the  number  that  they  in  those  parts  gave  to 
the  French,  and  kei)t  it  by  me.  When  they,  in  their 
own  council-house,  were  taking  an  account  of  their 
number,  with  a  piece  of  bark  newly  stripped,  and  a 
smnll  stick,  which  answered  the  end  of  a  slate  and  a 
pencil,  I  took  an  account  of  the  different  nations  and 
tribes,  which  I  added  together,  and  found  there  were  not 
half  the  number,  which  they  had  given  the  French ; 
and  though  they  were  then  their  allies,  and  lived  among 
them,  it  was  not  easy  finding  out  the  deception,  as  they 
were  a  wandering  set,  and  some  of  them  almost  always 
in  the  woods  hunting.  I  asked  one  of  the  chiefs  what 
was  their  reason  for  making  such  different  returns?  He 
«aid  it  was  for  political  reasons,  in  order  to  obtain  greater 
.presents  from  the  French,  by  telling  them  they  could 
not  divide  such  and  such  quantities  of  goods  among  so 
'many. 

In  the  year  of  General  Bouquet's  last  campaign,  1764, 
I  saw  the  official  return  made  by  the  British  officers,  of 
the  number  of  Indians  that  were  in  arms  against  us  that 
year,  which  amounted  to  thirty  thousand.  As  I  was 
then  a  lieutenant  in  the  British  service,  I  told  them  I 
was  of  opinion  that  there  were  not  above  one  thousand 
in  arms  against  us,  as  they  were  divided  by  Broadstreet's 
army  being  then  at  Lake  Erie.  The  British  officers 
hooted  at  me,  and  said  they  could  not  make  England 
sensible  of  the  difficulties  they  labored  under  in  fight- 
ing them,  as  England  expect  that  their  troops  could 
tight  the  undisciplined  savages  in  America,  five  to  one, 


(  245  ) 


as  they  did  the  East  Indians,  and  therefore  my  report 
would  not  answer  their  purpose,  as  they  could  not  ^ive 
an  honorable  account  of  the  war,  but  by  augmenting 
their  number.  I  am  of  opinion  that  from  Braddock's 
war,  until  the  present  time,  there  never  were  more  than 
three  thousand  Indians  at  any  time,  in  arms  against  us, 
west  of  Fort  Pitt,  and  frequently  not  half  that  number. 
According  to  the  Indians'  own  accounts,  during  the 
whole  of  Braddock's  war,  or  from  1755,  till  1758,  they 
killed  or  took  fifty  of  our  people,  for  one  that  they  lost. 
In  the  war  that  commenced  in  the  year  1703,  they  killed 
comparatively  few  of  our  people,  and  lost  more  of  theirs, 
as  the  frontiers  (especially  the  Virginians)  had  learned 
something  of  their  method  of  war:  yet,  they  in  this 
war,  according  to  their  own  accounts,  (which  I  believe 
to  be  true,)  killed  or  took  ten  of  our  people,  for  one  they 
lost. 

Let  us  now  take  a  view  of  the  blood  and  treasure  that 
was  spent  in  opposing,  comparatively,  a  few  Indian 
warriors,  with  only  some  assistance  from  tiie  French, 
the  first  four  years  of  the  war.  Additional  to  the 
amazing  destruction  and  slaughter  that  tlu;  frontiers 
sustained,  from  James  river  to  Suscjuehanna,  and  al)out 
thirty  miles  broad ;  the  following  campaigns  were  also 
carried  on  against  the  Indians: — General  Braddock's,  in 
the  year  1755;  Colonel  Armstrong's  against  the  Cattan- 
yan  town,  on  the  Allegheny,  1757;  (Jeneral  Forhes's,  in 
1758;  General  Stanwick's,  in  175il;  General  Monkton's, 
in  17(50;  Colonel  BoU(iuet's  in  1701 — and  170;;,  when  he 
fought  the  battle  of  Brushy  Run,  and  lost  above  one 
hundred  men;  but,  by  the  assistance  of  Virginia  vohm- 
teers,  drove  the  Indians:  Colonel  Armstrong's,  up  tlie 
west  branch  of  Sns([uelianna,  in  17()3;  (Jeneral  Jiroad- 


ll 


^mmmm 


mmm 


iB« 


.1 


(  246) 

street's,  up  Lake  Erie,  in  1764 ;  General  BouquetV,  against 
the  Indians  at  Muskingum,  in  1764 ;  Lord  Dunmore'ii,  in 
1774 ;  General  M'Intosh's,  in  1778 :  Colonel  Crawford's, 
shortly  after  his;  General  Clarke's,  in  1778-1780;  Colo- 
nel Bowman's,  in  1779 ;  General  Clarke's,  in  1782 — against 
the  Wabash,  in  1786 ;  General  Logan's,  against  the  Shaw- 

anees,  in  1786;  General  Wilkinson's,  in  ;  Colonel 

Harmar's,  in  1790 ;  and  General  St.  Clair's,  in  1791 ; 
which,  in  all,  arc  twenty-two  campaigns,  besides  smaller 
expeditions — such  as  the  French  Creek  expedition.  Colo- 
nels Edwards's,  Loughrie's,  &c.  All  these  wore  exclusive 
of  the  number  of  men  that  were  internally  employed  as 
scouting  ])arties,  and  in  erecting  forts,  guarding  stations, 
&c.  When  we  take  the  foregoing  occurrences  into  con- 
sideration, may  we  not  reasonably  conclude,  that  they 
are  the  best  disciplined  troops  in  the  known  world?  Is 
it  not  the  best  discipline  that  has  the  greatest  tendency 
to  annoy  the  enemy  and  save  their  own  men?  I  appre- 
hend that  the  Indian  discipline  is  as  well  calculated  to 
answer  the  purpose  in  the  woods  of  America,  as  the 
British  discipline  in  Flanders:  and  British  discipline  in 
the  woods,  is  the  way  to  have  men  slaughtered,  with 
scarcely  any  chance  of  defending  themselves. 

Let  us  take  a  view  of  the  benefits  we  have  received, 
by  what  little  we  have  learned  of  their  art  of  war,  which 
cost  us  dear,  and  the  loss  we  have  sustained  for  want  of 
it,  and  then  see  if  it  will  not  be  well  worth  our  while  to 
retain  what  we  have,  and  also  to  endeavor  to  ini{)rove 
in  this  necessary  branch  of  l)usincss.  Though  we  have 
made  considerable  ])roliciency  u  his  line,  and  in  some 
respects  out-do  them,  viz.  as  marksmen,  and  in  cutting 
our  rifles,  and  kep])ing  them  in  good  order;  yet,  I 
apprehend,  we  are  far  behind  in  their  mano'uvres,  or  in 


(  247  ) 


ived, 
hich 
ntof 
lie  to 
:ove 
lave 
uiie 
ting 
I 
in 


being  able  to  surprize,  or  to  prevent  a  surprize.  May 
we  not  conclude,  that  the  progress  we  had  made  in  their 
art  of  war,  contributed  considerably  towards  our  succesp, 
in  various  respects,  when  contending  with  Great  Britain 
for  liberty  ?  Had  the  British  king  attempted  to  enslave 
us  before  Braddock's  war,  in  all  probability  he  might 
readily  have  done  it,  because,  except  the  New  Eng- 
landers,  wlio  had  formerly  been  engaged  in  war  with 
the  Indians,  we  were  unaci^uainted  with  any  kind  of 
war:  but  after  fighting  such  a  sul)tile  and  barbarous 
enemy  as  the  Indians,  we  were  not  terrified  at  the  ap- 
proach of  British  red-coats. — Was  not  BurgoyneVdefeat 
accomplished,  in  some  measure,  by  the  Indian  mode  of 
fighting?  and  did  not  General  Morgan's  rifle-men,  and 
many  others,  fight  with  greater  success,  in  consequence 
of  what  they  had  learned  of  their  art  of  war?  Kentucky 
would  not  have  been  settled  at  the  time  it  was,  had  the 
Virginians  been  altogether  ignorant  of  this  method  of 
war? 

In  Braddock's  war,  the  frontiers  were  laid  waste  for 
above  three  hundred  miles  long,  and  generally  about 
thirty  broad,  excepting  some  that  were  living  in  forts, 
and  many  hundreds,  or  perhaps  thousands,  killed  or 
made  captives,  and  horses,  and  all  kinds  of  property 
carried  ofi':  but,  in  the  next  Indian  war,  though  wo  had 
the  same  Indians  to  cope  with,  the  frontiers  almost  all 
stood  their  ground,  because  they  were  by  tliis  time,  in 
some  measure,  acquaint('(l  with  their  nianuuvres;  and 
the  want  of  this  in  the  first  war,  was  the  cause  of  the  loss 
of  many  hundred  of  our  citizens,  and  nuu^h  treasure. 

Though  large  volumes  have  been  wrote  on  morality, 
yet  it  may  be  all  summed  up  in  saying,  do  as  you 
would  wish  to  be  done  by:  so  the  Indians  sum  up  the 
art  of  war  in  the  following  manner : 


'■^ 


H 


I  '■ 


(  248) 

The  business  of  the  private  warriors  is  to  be  under 
comniand,  or  punctually  to  obey  orders — to  learn  to 
march  a-breast  in  scattered  order,  so  as  to  be  in  readiness 
to  surround  the  enemy,  or  to  prevent  being  surrounded — 
to  be  good  marksmen,  and  active  in  the  use  of  arms — to 
practice  running — to  learn  to  endure  hunger  or  hard- 
ships with  patience  and  fortitude — to  tell  the  truth  at 
all  times  to  their  officers,  but  more  especially  wlien  sent 
out  to  spy  the  enemy. 

Concerning  Officers. — They  say  that  it  would  be  absurd 
to  appoint  a  man  an  officer  whose  skill  and  courage  had 
never  been  tried — that  all  officers  should  be  advanced 
only  according  to  merit — that  no  one  man  should  have 
the  absolute  command  of  an  army — that  a  council  of 
officers  are  to  determine  when,  and  how  an  attack  is  to 
be  made — that  it  is  the  business  of  the  officers  to  lay 
plans  to  take  every  advantage  of  the  enemy — to  ambu'^h 
and  surprize  them,  and  to  prevent  being  ambushed  and 
surprized  themselves — it  is  the  duty  of  officers  to  pre- 
pare and  deliver  speeches  to  the  men,  in  order  to  ani- 
mate and  encourage  them;  and  on  the  march,  to  prevent 
the  men,  at  any  time,  from  getting  into  a  huddle,  because 
if  the  enemy  should  surround  them  in  this  position, 
they  would  be  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  It  is  like- 
wise their  business  at  all  times  to  endeavor  to  annoy 
their  enemy,  and  save  their  own  men,  and  therefore 
ought  never  to  bring  on  an  attack  without  considerable 
advantage,  or  without  what  appeared  to  them  the  sure 
prosjiect  of  victory,  and  that  with  the  lo^s  of  few  men ; 
and  if  at  any  time  they  should  be  mistaken  in  this,  and 
are  like  to  lose  many  men  by  gaining  the  victorv,  it  is 
their  duty  to  retreat,  and  wait  for  a  better  opportunity 
of  defeating  their  enemy,  without  the  danger  of  losing  so 


BwL__. 


(  249  ) 


bsurd 
3  had 
inced 
have 
cil  of 
:  is  to 

0  lay 
ibu'^h 

1  and 
pre- 
ani- 
vent 
aiise 
|tion, 

ike- 
noy 
fore 
ible 
lire 
en; 
ind 
t  is 

ity 

so 


many  men.  Their  conduct  proves  that  they  act  upon  these 
principles ;  therefore  it  is,  that  from  Braddock's  war  to  the 
present  time,  they  have  seldom  ever  made  an  unsuccess- 
ful attack.  The  battle  at  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kan- 
hawa  is  the  greatest  instance  of  this ;  and  even  then, 
though  the  Indians  killed  about  three  for  one  they  lost, 
yet  they  retreated.  Tlie  lof^s  of  the  Virginians  in  this 
action  was  seventy  killed,  and  the  same  number 
wounded — The  Indians  lost  twenty  killed  on  the  field, 
and  eight,  who  died  afterwards,  of  their  wounds.  This 
was  the  greate.-t  loss  of  men  that  I  ever  knew  the  In- 
dians to  sustain  in  any  one  battle.  They  will  commonly 
retreat  if  their  men  are  falling  fast — they  will  not  stand 
cutting  like  the  Highlanders  or  other  British  troops :  but 
this  proceeds  from  a  compliiince  with  their  rules  of  war, 
rather  than  cowardice.  If  they  are  surrounded  they 
will  fight  while  there  is  a  man  of  them  alive,  rather 
than  surrender.  When  Colonel  John  Armstrong  sur- 
rounded the  Kittaning  town,  on  the  Allegheny  river, 
Captain  Jacobs,  a  Delaware  chief,  with  some  warriors, 
took  possession  of  a  house,  defended  themselves  for 
some  time,  and  killed  a  number  of  our  men.  As  Jacobs 
could  speak  English,  our  people  called  on  him  to  sur- 
render. He  said  that  he  and  his  men  were  warriors, 
and  they  would  all  fight  while  life  remained.  He  was 
again  told  that  they  should  l^e  well  used  if  they  would 
only  surrender;  and  if  not,  the  house  should  l)e  burnt 
down  over  their  heads — Jacobs  re])lied  he  could  eat 
fire ;  and  when  the  house  was  in  a  flame,  he,  and  they 
that  were  with  him,  came  out  in  a  fighting  position,  and 
were  all  killed.  As  they  are  a  sharp,  active  kind  of 
peo})le,  and  war  is  their  i)rincipal  study,  in  this  they 
have  arrived  at  considerable  j)erfection.     We  may  learn 


r 


(U 


H, 


(  250  ) 

of  the  Indians  what  is  useful  and  laudal)le,  and  at  the 
same  time  hiy  aside  their  l)arbarous  proceeding.  It  is 
much  to  be  lamented,  that  some  of  our  frontier  rifle-men 
are  too  prone  to  imitate  them  in  their  inhumanity. 
During  the  British  war,  a  considerable  number  of  men 
from  below  Fort  Pitt,  crossed  the  Ohio,  and  marched 
into  a  town  of  friendly  Indians,  chiefly  Delawares,  who 
professed  the  Moravian  religion.  As  the  Indians  appre- 
hended no  danger,  they  neither  lifted  arms  nor  fled. 
After  these  rifle-men  were  some  time  in  the  town,  and 
the  Indians  altogether  in  their  power,  in  cool  blood, 
they  massacred  the  whole  town,  without  distinction  of 
age  or  sex.  This  was  an  act  of  barbarity  beyond  any 
thing  I  ever  knew  to  be  committed  by  the  savages 
themselves. 

Why  have  we  not  made  greater  proficiency  in  the  In- 
dian art  of  war?  It  is  because  we  are  too  proud  to  imi- 
tate them,  even  though  it  should  be  a  means  of  preserv- 
ing the  lives  of  many  of  our  citizens  ?  No  !  We  are  not 
above  borrowing  language  from  them,  such  as  homony, 
pone,  tomahawk,  &c.  which  is  of  little  or  no  use  to  us. 
I  apprehend  that  the  reasons  why  we  have  not  im- 
proved more  in  this  respect  are  as  follows:  no  important 
acquisition  is  to  be  obtained  but  by  attention  and  dili- 
gence; and  as  it  is  easier  to  learn  to  move  and  act  in  con- 
cert, in  close  order,  in  the  open  plain,  than  to  act  in  concert 
in  scattered  order  in  the  woods,  so  it  is  easier  to  learn 
our  disci})line  than  the  Indian  mancEUvres.  They  train 
up  their  boys  in  the  art  of  war  from  the  time  they  are 
twelve  or  fourteen  years  of  age ;  whereas,  the  principal 
chance  our  i)eople  had  of  learning,  was  by  observing 
their  manonivres  when  in  action  against  us.  I  have 
been  long  astonished  that  no  one  has  written  upon  this 


4 


\h 


(  251  ; 

were  o„„  part  ou  ^^^tLT^V  "  ?'"  '"""^ '  ""* 
with  our  continental  TsciXe  I  .r"!  '  """""P'^^^ 
power,  after  trial,  ,vould  ve^  L '' .  ^  "°  ^""P^"" 
American  woods.  '°  '"'*"'  "^ ''«''''  in  the 

suhject,  in  a  future  editl        '  ^"''"'''  ""'<'  "P»"  '"is 


I(     )1 


C  252  ) 


NARRATIVE 

OF  THE 

CAPTIVITY  OF 

JOHN  M'CULLOUGH,  ESQ. 

WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF. 


ii ' 


The  /ollo'iuhig  is  an  Abridgment  of  what  the  Narrator  has  suffered 
and  seen,  during  upwards  of  Eight  Years  Captivity  zuith  the  Abori- 
genes  of  America.  I/is  design  in  this  Essay  is,  to  Illustrate  Facts  as 
they  occurred,  carefully  avoiding  to  exaggerate  any  thing  that  has 
come  under  his  Obseit'ation,  neither  is  it  his  design  to  give  a  Geo- 
graphical Account  of  the  Country  he  passed  through,  that  hai'ing 
been  done  already  by  abler  pens. 

His  endeavour  throughout  the  whole  is  to  make  it  Intelligible  to  the 
meatiest  capacity;  wherez'er  he  has  deemed  it  necessary  to  retain 
Indian  Wards — he  has  divided  them  into  Syllables  and  Accented  the 
Syllable  on  which  the  stress  of  the  word  lies,  in  order  to  give  the 
Header  an  idea  of  the  pronunciation. 

I  WAS  born  in  Newcastle  county,  in  the  state  of  Dela- 
ware. When  I  was  five  years  old,  my  father  moved 
his  family  from  thence  to  the  back  parts  of  then  Cumber- 
land (now  Franklin)  county,  to  a  place  well  known  by 
the  name  of  Conococheague  settlement,  where  he  made  a 
purchase  of  a  tract  of  land  at  sherifi''s  sale,  about  a  year 
before  what  has  been  generally  termed  Braddock's  war. 


ttjiinimjl 


(  253  ) 


fela- 
ived 
per- 

by 

le  a 
lear 
hiT. 


Shortly  after  the  commencement  of  tlie  war,  he  moved 
his  family  into  York  county,  where  we  remained  until 
the  8})ring  of  1756,  when  we  ventured  home ;  we  had  not 
been  long  at  home  until  we  were  alarmed  again,  we  then 
fled  down  to  Antieatuni  settlement,  where  we  remained 
until  the  beginning  of  harvest,  then  ventured  home  to 
secure  our  crops ;  we  stopped  about  three  miles  from 
home,  where  we  got  a  small  cabin  to  live  in  until  my 
father  went  home  and  secured  the  grain.  On  the  26th 
day  of  July,  1756,  my  parents  and  my  oldest  sister  went 
home  to  pull  flax,  accompanied  by  one  John  Allen,  a 
neighbour,  who  had  business  at  Fort  Loudon,  and  prom- 
ised to  come  that  way  in  the  evening  to  accompany  them 
back.  Allen  had  proceeded  but  about  two  miles  toward 
Loudon  until  he  heard  the  Indians  had  killed  a  man 
that  morning,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  where  my 
parents  were  at  work;  he  then,  instead  of  going  back  to 
accompany  them  home  agreeable  to  his  promise,  took  a 
circuitous  route  of  about  six  or  seven  miles,  for  fear  of 
the  Indians.  Wlien  he  came  home,  my  brother  and  I 
were  playing  on  the  great  road,  a  short  distance  from 
the  house;  he  told  us  to  go  immediately  to  the  house,  or 
the  Indians  would  catch  us,  adding,  at  the  same  time, 
that  he  supposed  they  had  killed  our  father  and  mother 
by  that  time. 

We  were  small,  I  was  about  eight  years  old,  my 
brother  was  but  five;  we  went  to  the  house,  the  j)eople 
were  all  in  a  bustle,  making  ready  to  go  to  a  fort  about 
a  mile  oft".  I  recollect  of  hearing  them  say,  that  some- 
body should  go  and  give  my  parents  notice ;  none  would 
•/enture  to  go;  my  brother  and  me  concluded  that  we 
would  go  ourselves,  accordingly  we  laid  oif  our  trowsers 
and  went  off  in  our  shirts  unnoticed  by  any  person, 


w 


T 


I 


l^ 


II  I' 


<  < 


fey 


(  254  ) 

leaving  a  little  sister  about  two  years  old  sleepinfr  in 
bed ;  when  we  got  in  sight  of  the  house  we  began  to 
halloo  and  sing,  rejoicing  that  we  had  got  home ;  when 
we  came  within  about  fifty  or  sixty  yards  of  the  house, 
all  of  a  sudden  tlie  Indians  came  rushing  out  of  a  thicket 
upon  us ;  they  were  six  in  number,  to  wit,  five  Indians 
and  one  Frenchman ;  they  divided  into  two  parties ;  three 
rushed  across  the  path  before,  and  three  behind  us.  This 
part  of  the  scene  appears  to  me  yet,  more  like  a  dream 
than  any  thing  real :  my  brother  screamed  aloud  the 
instant  we  saw  them  ;  for  my  part,  it  ap})eared  to  me, 
that  the  one  party  were  Indians  &  the  other  white  i)eo- 
ple :  they  stopped  before  us,  I  was  making  my  way  be- 
twixt two  of  them,  when  one  of  the  hind  party  pulled 
me  back  by  my  shirt ;  they  instantly  ran  up  a  little  hill 
to  where  they  had  left  their  baggage — there  they  tied  a 
pair  of  moccasons  on  my  feet ;  my  brother  at  that  in- 
stant broke  off  from  them,  running  towards  the  house, 
screaming  as  he  went;  they  brought  him  back,  and 
started  off  as  fast  as  I  was  able  to  run  ftlong  with  them, 
one  of  them  carrying  my  brother  on  his  back.  We  ran 
along  side  of  the  field  where  my  parents  were  at  work, 
they  were  only  intercepted  from  our  view  by  a  small 
ridge  in  the  field,  that  lay  parallel  to  the  course  we  were 
running — when  we  had  got  about  seventy  or  eighty  per- 
ches from  the  field,  we  sat  down  in  a  thicket  of  bushes, 
where  we  heard  our  father  calling  us ;  two  of  the  In- 
dians ran  off  towards  the  house — but  happily  missed  him, 
as  he  had  relumed  back  to  the  field,  supposing  that  we 
had  gone  back  again.  The  other  four  started  off  with 
us  as  fast  as  I  was  able  to  travel  along  with  them,  jump- 
ing across  every  road  we  came  to,  one  catching  me  by 
each  arm,  and  slinging  me  over  the  road  to  prevent  our 
tracks  from  being  discovered. 


(  255  ) 


lem, 

ran 

[ork, 

[nail 

Tre 

>er- 

IPS, 

lln- 

|im, 

I  we 

iith 

ip- 

|by 
mr 


We  travelled  all  that  day,  observing  still  when  we 
came  tc  an  eminence,  one  of  them  wouM  olitnb  uj)  a  tree, 
and  point  out  the  course  they  should  take,  in  order,  I 
suppose,  to  avoid  beinp;  discovered.     It  came  on  rain  to- 
wards evening,  we  travelled  on  till  a  good  while  after 
night — at  last  we  took  up  our  lodging  under  a  large  tree, 
they  spread  down  a  blanket  for  us  to  lie  on,  and  laid 
another  over  us,  an  Indian  laid  down  on  each  side  of  us 
on  the  edge  of  our  cover,  the  rest  laid  down  at  our  head 
and  feet.     At  break  of  day  we  started  again  ;  about  sun- 
rise we  heard  a  number  of  axes  at  a  short  distance  from 
us,  we  also  discovered  where  logs  had  been  dragged  on 
the  ground  the  day  before ;  they  immediately  took  the 
alarm  and  made  off  as  (pick  as  })Ossib]e.     Towards  even- 
ing we  stopped  on  the  side  of  a  mountain  ;  two  of  the 
Indians  and  the  Frenchman,  went  down  into  the  valley, 
leaving  one  to  take  care  of  us:  they  were  not  long  gone 
till  we  heard  them  shooting,  in  a  short  time  they  came 
back,  carrying  a  parcel  of  hogs  on  their  backs,  and  a 
fowl  they  had  killed;  also  a  parcel  of  green  apples  in 
their  bosoms ;  they  gave  us  some  of  the  apples,  which 
was  the  first  nourishment  we  got  from  the  time  we  were 
taken.     We  then  went  down  the  mountain  into  an  ob- 
scure place,  where  they  kindled  a  fire  and  singed  the 
hair  of  the  hogs  and  roasted  them,  the  fowl  they  roasted 
for  us;  we  had  not  been  long  there  till  we  heard  the  war 
halloo  up  the  run  from  where  we  had  our  fire,  the  two 
Indians  came  to  us,  whom  I  mentioned  had  ran  towards 
the  house  when  they  heard  my  father  calling  us ;  they 
had  a  scalp  with  them,  by  the  color  of  the  hair  1  con- 
cluded it  had  been  my  father's,  l)ut  1  was  mistaken,  it 
was  the  scalp  of  the  man  they  killed  the  morning  before 
they  took  us;  the  scalp  they  made  two  of,  and  dried 


i 


n  i 


h    ^ 


''II 


fc.    ;' 


(  251;  ) 

them  at  the  firf.  Aftf  r  roasting  tlie  meat  and  drying 
the  scalps,  we  took  to  the  mountain  again,  when  we  had 
got  about  half  way  up,  we  stopped  and  sat  down  on  ;.n 
old  log — after  a  few  minutes  rest  they  rose  up  one  after 
another  and  went  to  the  sides  of  rocks  and  old  logs  and 
began  to  scrape  away  the  leaves,  where  they  drew  out 
blankets,  bells,  a  small  kettle,  and  several  other  articles 
which  they  had  hidden  when  they  were  conung  down. 
We  got  over  the  mountain  that  evening,  about  sunset 
we  crossed  a  large  road  in  sight  of  a  waste  house,  we 
went  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  farther  and  '  ncamped 
by  the  side  of  a  large  run;  one  of  them  went  about  two 
or  three  hundred  yards  from  the  camp  and  shot  a  deer 
and  brought  it  tc  the  camp  on  hie  back.  I  had  been 
medita'  Ing  !iiy  er;ca])e  from  the  time  we  crossed  the  road. 
Shortly  alter  dark  we  laid  down,  I  was  j/iaced  next  to 
the  fire,  my  brother  next,  d'  an  Indian  laid  down  on  the 
edge  of  the  blanket  behind  us;  I  awoke  some  time  in 
the  night,  and  roused  my  brother,  whispering  to  him  to 
rise,  and  we  would  go  off,  he  told  me  that  he  could  not 
go,  I  told  him  that  I  would  go  myself,  he  replied  that 
he  did  not  care.  I  got  up  as  softly  as  I  could,  but  had 
not  got  more  than  three  or  four  yards  from  the  lire  till 
the  Indian  who  lay  at  our  backs  raised  his  head  and 
said,  "  Where  you  gof^  I  told  him  I  was  going  to  p — s, 
he  said,  '  make  haste,  come  .s/rrp."  I  went  and  laid  down 
again. 

Next  morning  four  of  the  Indians  and  the  Frenchman 
went  off  on  a  scout,  leaving  one  to  take  care  of  us.  About 
the  middle  of  the  day,  they  came  running  the  way  we 
came  the  evening  before — they  hallooed  as  soon  as  they 
came  in  sight;  by  the  time  they  got  to  the  camp,  the  one 
who  took  care  of  us  had  all  their  things  thrown  on  their 


■ 


i 


(.  257  ) 


:hat 
lad 

till 
and 

own 

nan 

)()Ut 

we 
nev 
one 
leir 


blankets ;  the  one  who  took  care  of  us,  took  me  on  his 
back  and  ran  as  fast  as  he  could,  for  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile,  then  threw  rie  down,  broke  a  twig  and  switched 
me  along  until  we  got  on  the  mountain  again ;  about  an 
hour  after,  we  began  to  gather  whortle-berries,  as  they 
were  very  jdenty  on  the  mountains;  lucky  indeed  for 
us,  for  I  verily  believe  we  should  have  starved  with  hun- 
ger, had  it  not  been  for  the  berries,  for  we  could  not  eat 
the  meat  without  l)read  or  salt.  We  got  off  the  mount- 
ain that  evening,  and  encamped  in  a  thicket;  it  rained 
that  night  and  the  next  morning  ;  they  had  made  a  shade 
of  some  of  their  spare  blankets;  we  were  long  in  starting 
the  next  morning.  Whilst  we  were  sitting  about  the 
fire,  we  heard  the  re))ort  of  two  guns  at  a  little  distance 
directly  the  way  we  came  the  evening  before ;  they  started 
up  in  an  instant,  and  picked  uji  their  blankets  and  other 
articles:  the  one  who  carried  mc  before  took  me  on  his 
back  and  ran  as  fast  as  he  could,  for  about  half  a  mile, 
then  threw  me  down  and  whii)t  me  along  as  they  had 
done  the  day  before.  It  must  be  observed  that  they 
always  carried  my  brother  time  about;  for  my  j*  't  it 
was  the  only  two  rides  I  got  from  the  day  I  was  taken, 
till  we  got  to  Fort  Duciuesne  (now  Pittsburg) — I  must 
pass  over  many  occurrences  tliat  happened  on  our  way 
to  Pittsburgh,  excepting  one  or  two.  The  morning  be- 
fore we  came  to  Keesk-kshee-inan-nit'-tdn^^^  which  sign  ides 
Cut  Spirit,  an  old  town  at  the  junction  of  La-d'-hau'-neck, 
or  Middle  Creek,  and  Quin-nim' -mouijh-koinui ^  or  (Vui-na- 
maugh,  or  Otter  Creek,  as  the  word  signifies.  The  morn- 
ing before  we  got  there,  they  pulled  all  the  liair  out  of 
our  heads,  except  a  small  spot  on  the  crown,  which  they 
left.  We  got  to  the  town  about  the  middle  of  the  day, 
where  we  got  some  S(iuashes  to  eat ;  the  next  morning 


i 


V:     ii\ 


(  258  ) 

we  set  out  for  Fort  Duquesne — tlie  morning  after  that 
we  came  to  several  Indian  camps — tliey  gave  us  some 
bread,  which  was  the  first  we  tasted  from  the  time  we 
were  taken.  About  a  mile  or  two  before  we  came  to  the 
fort,  we  met  an  old  Indian,  whose  dress  made  him  ap- 
pear very  terrifying  to  us;  he  had  a  brown  coat  on  him, 
no  shirt,  his  breast  bare,  a  breech-clout,  a  pair  of  leggins 
and  moccasons — his  face  and  breast  i)ainted  rudely  with 
Vermillion  and  verdigrease — a  large  bunch  of  artificial 
hair,  dyed  of  a  crimson  color,  fixed  on  the  top  or  crown 
of  his  head,  a  large  triangle  piece  of  silver  hanging  be- 
low his  nose,  that  covered  almost  the  whole  of  his  upper 
lij) ;  his  ears  ( which  had  been  cut  according  to  their 
peculiar  custom )  were  stretched  out  with  fine  brass 
wire,  made  in  the  form  (but  much  larger)  of  what  is 
commonl}^  fixed  in  susi)enders,  so  that,  perhaps,  he  ap- 
peared something  like  what  you  might  ai)prehend  to  be 
n  likeness  of  the  devil.  As  he  approached  toward  us, 
the  rest  said  something  to  him, — he  took  hold  of  me  by 
the  arm,  and  lashed  me  about  from  side  to  side,  at  last 
he  threw  me  from  him  as  far  as  he  was  able,  then  took 
hold  of  my  brother,  and  served  him  the  same  way. 
Shortly  after  that,  they  stopped  and  painted  us,  tying 
or  fixing  a  large  ])unch  of  hawk's  feathers  on  the  top  of 
each  of  our  heads,  then  raised  the  war  halloo,  viz.  one 
halloo  for  eacli  seal}),  and  one  for  each  prisoner,  still  re- 
l)eating  at  certain  intervals  ;  we  met  several  Indians  who 
came  running  out  to  meet  us — we  were  taken  to  the 
middle  of  their  encami)ment  into  one  of  their  chief's 
huts;  after  they  had  given  a  narrative  of  their  adventure, 
the  old  chief  drew  out  a  small  bag  from  behind  his  bed 
and  took  out  a  large  belt  of  wampum  and  fixed  it  round 
my  neck  ;  we  then  started  down  to  the  fort,  .i  great  num 


Ai' 


I 


fter  that 
us  some 
time  we 
ne  to  the 
him  ap- 
on  him, 
f  leggins 
ely  with 
irtificial 
ir  crown 
?ing  be- 
Ls  upper 
to  their 
le  brass 
what  is 
,  he  ap- 
id  to  be 
'ard  us, 
.'  me  by 
at  hist 
11  took 
e  way. 
,  tying 
top  of 
iz.  one 
till  ro- 
lls who 
Ito  the 
hief's 
iture, 
s  })ed 
ound 
num 


(  259) 

ber  of  Indians  of  both  sexes  were  paraded  on  each  side 
of  the  path  to  see  us  as  we  went  along;  some  of  them 
were  shoving  in  Httle  fellows  to  strike  us,  and  others  ad- 
vising me  to  strike  them,  but  we  seemed  to  be  both 
afraid  of  each  other  ;  we  were  taken  into  a  French  house, 
where  a  number  of  Inchans  were  sitting  on  the  lioor; 
one  of  the  cliiefs  took  my  l)rother  by  the  hand  and 
handed  him  to  a  Frenchman  who  wns  standing  at  a  room 
door,  which  was  the  hist  sight  1  had  of  him :  after  that 
he  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  made  a  sjjeech  for  about 
half  an  hour,  then  handed  me  to  an  Indian  who  was  sit- 
ting on  the  hearth  smonking  his  pipe;  he  took  me  be- 
tween his  legs,  (he  could  talk  very  good  English,)  and 
asked  me  several  queKtions,  telling  me  that  I  was  his 
brother,  that  the  people  had  killed  a  brother  of  his  about 
a  year  before,  and  that  these  good  men  (  meaning  the 
warriors  who  took  us  )  had  gone  and  brought  me  to  re- 
place his  deceased  brother;  he  also  told  me  that  he  had 
])een  raised  amongst  the  white  peoi)le,  and  that  he  had 
been  taught  to  read  when  he  was  young,  but  that  ho  had 
almost  forgot  it.  I  believe  he  was  tolling  mo  the  truth, 
for  he  knew  all  the  letters  and  liguros.  lie  then  took 
me  by  the  hand  and  led  me  to  the  Al-lee'-ge-con-ninxj  or 
Alleghany  river,  which  signilies  an  im])rossion  made  by 
the  foot  of  a  human  being. — tor  said  they,  tin-  land  is  so 
.  ich  about  it  that  a  person  cannot  travel  through  the 
lands  adjoining  it  without  leaving  the  mark  of  tlu;ir  foot. 


W 


e  got  in  a  canoe  and  went  across  tho  ;ivor,   \v 


here 


great  number  of  Indians  wore  encamped,  lie  lod  me 
through  thoir  encami)Tiiont;  towards  evening  we  cj  me 
liack.  Shortly  after  our  return,  two  yoiing  follows  look 
mo  by  the  hand  and  lod  mo  to  the  river,  we  got  into  a 
canoe  and  paddled  tibout  thirty  or  forty  yards  from  tlie 


I 


m' 


V     1 


■I  K 


(  260  ) 

shore,  when  they  laid  down  their  paddles  and  laid  hold 
of  me  by  the  wrists,  and  plunged  me  over  head  and  ears 
under  the  water,  holding  me  down  till  I  was  almost 
smothered,  then  drew  me  up  to  get  breath.  This  they 
repeated  several  times.  I  had  no  other  thought,  but 
that  they  were  going  to  drown  me.  I  was  at  every  in- 
terval pleading  with  them  not  to  drown  me;  at  last  one 
of  them  said,  'Sne  no  killiin,  me  ivashimy  I  plead  with 
them  to  let  me  into  shallow  water,  and  I  would  wash 
myself,  accordingly  they  did — I  then  began  to  rub  my- 
self; they  signified  to  me  to  dive;  I  dipped  my  face  in 
the  water  and  raised  it  up  as  quick  as  1  could;  one  of 
them  stei)ped  out  of  the  canoe  and  laid  hold  of  me  on 
the  back  of  my  neck,  and  held  me  down  to  the  bottom, 
till  I  was  almost  smothered,  before  he  let  me  go.  I  then 
waded  out;  they  put  a  new  rufllod  shirt  on  me,  telling 
me  that  I  was  then  an  Indian,  and  that  they  would  send 
me  away  to  the  rest  of  their  friends.  Accordingly  I  was 
sent  ofi'  the  next  day  with  a  female  friend,  to  an  uncle 
of  my  adopted  brother's,  who  lived  at  a  town  called  Hhe- 
namj-go,  on  Beaver  creek.  Nothing  remarkable  happened 
during  our  journey,  excepting  several  falls  that  I  got  off 
a  young  horse  I  was  set  on  to  ride.  On  the  third  or 
fourth  night  we  arrived  in  She-nang'-go,  about  an  hour 
after  da'*!-'  ■  iftt  <"  the  female  friend  whom  I  was  sent  with 
had  ini'jrmed  the  family  who  I  was,  they  set  up  a  la- 
mentable cry,  for  some  time — when  their  lamentation 
was  over,  they  came  to  me  one  after  anotiier  and  shook 
me  by  the  hand,  in  token  that  they  considered  me  to 
stand  in  the  same  relationshij)  to  them  as  the  one  in 
whose  stead  I  was  })laced.  The  next  morning  I  was 
presented  to  my  uncle,  with  whom  I  lived  about  a  year. 
He  was  blind  of  one  eye — a  very  good  natured  man. 


I 


r 


(  2G1  ) 


laid  hold 
and  ears 
LS  almost 
riiis  they 
Light,  but 
every  in- 
t  last  one 
lead  with 
uld  wash 
)  rub  my- 
ly  face  in 
d;  one  of 
of  nie  on 
e  bottom, 
).     I  then 
ae,  telling 
ould  send 
igly  I  was 
I  an  uncle 
ailed  She- 
iaj)})ened 
I  got  off 
third  or 
an  hour 
Isent  with 
up  a  la- 
lentation 
id  shook 
!d  me  to 
|e  one  in 
ng  I  was 
lit  a  year, 
led  man. 


I 


In  the  beginning  of  winter  he  used  to  raise  me  up  by 
day  light  every  morning,  and  make  me  sit  down  in  the 
creek  up  to  my  chin  in  tlie  cold  water,  in  order  to  make 
me  hardy  as  he  said,  whilst  he  would  sit  on  the  bank 
smoaking  his  i)ipe,  until  he  thought  I  had  been  long 
enough  in  the  water,  he  would  then  bid  me  to  dive. 
After  I  came  out  of  the  water  he  would  order  me  not  to 
go  near  the  fire  until  1  would  be  dry.  I  was  kept  at  that 
till  the  water  was  frozen  over,  he  would  then  break  the 
ice  for  me  and  send  me  in  as  before.  Some  time  in  the 
winter,  perhaps  not  long  before  Christmas,  I  took  very 
sick ;  I  hiy  all  winter  at  the  fire  side,  and  an  old  !^([uaw 
attended  me,  (  what  little  attendance  I  got;)  she  used  to 
go  out  in  the  snow  and  hunt  up  herbs  by  the  old  tops ; 
the  roots  of  which  she  would  boil  and  make  a  kind  of 
drink  for  me.  She  would  never  suffer  me  to  taste  cold 
water,  nor  any  kind  of  tlesh,  or  any  thing  that  was  sweet 
or  salt.  The  only  nourishment  that  I  was  suffered  to 
take,  was  homony,or  dumplings,  made  of  coarse  Indian 
meal  boiled  in  water.  As  I  said  before,  I  lay  all  winter 
at  the  fire  side,  I  had  nothing  but  a  small  blanket  to 
cover  me,  part  of  which  1  drew  under  me  for  my  bed, 
my  legs  drew  up  so  that  I  was  obliged  to  crawl  when  I 
had  occasion  to  go  out  of  doors.  I  remained  in  that 
situation  till  corn  planting  time,  when  I  began  to  get 
better.  They  anointed  my  knees  and  hams  with  bears 
oil,  and  made  me  keep  my  legs  stretched  out  as  tight 
as  I  could  bear  them,  by  which  means  1  got  the  use  of 
my  joints  in  about  a  montlTs  time. 

Shortly  after  I  got  able  to  run  about,  a  dreadful  acci- 
dent happened  in  my  hands,  in  the  following  manner. 
The  mo^)t,  of  the  Indians  of  the  town  were  either  at  their 
corn-fields  or  out  a  fishing — my  uncle  had  been  unwell 


If 


^r 


m 


¥1 


^■•!! 


K       .    I 


(  262  ) 

for  some  time — he  was  below  the  town  at  the  creek  side, 
where  he  had  an  Indian  doctor  sweating  him,  and  con- 
juring out  his  disorder.  He  had  a  large  pistol,  which 
he  had  hung  up  by  the  guard  at  the  head  of  his  bed, 
there  was  two  brothers,  relations  of  ours,  the  oldest  was 
perhaps  about  my  own  age,  the  other  about  two  years 
younger.  The  oldest  boy  took  down  the  pistol  and 
cocked  it,  threatening  for  diversion  to  shoot  his  brother: 
the  little  fellow  ran  off  from  us — I  asj^isted  him  to  l(>t 
down  the  cock  of  the  pistol  which  he  lield  in  his  left 
hand  with  the  mu/zle  towards  his  l>ody,  and  liis  right 
hand  against  the  cock:  I  would  then  (after  cautioning 
him  to  turn  the  muzzle  past  his  body.)  dr.iw  the  trigger, 
and  he  would  let  dow'n  the  cock  slowly.  1  advised  him 
several  times  to  lay  by  the  pistol,  which  he  would  do; 
but  as  soon  as  his  brother  would  come  back  to  us,  he 
would  get  it  again.  A.t  last  his  brother  got  afraid  and 
would  not  come  near  us  any  more.  He  then  threatened 
to  shoot  me ;  I  fled  out  of  the  house  from  him.  The 
town  lay  in  a  serai-circular  form,  round  a  bend  of  the 
creek:  there  happened  to  be  a  woman  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  town,  (as  we  lived  at  the  lower  end)  that  had  ob- 
servf  t.  me  when  I  fled  out  of  the  house  from  him — he 
immediatf'ly  called  me  back  to  assi.-^t  liinito  letdown 
the  cock  ;  1  refused  to  go,  unless  lie  would  turn  the  butt 
of  the  pistol  to  me,  which  he  did,  1  went  in,  in  haste  (  and 
fonot  to  caution  him  to  hold  the  muzzle  to  one  side) 
and  drew  the  trigger;  the  consequence  was,  the  pistol 
went  ofl'  and  shot  him  in  the  stomach,  the  ))ist^^  Mew 
out  of  our  hands  ;  he  laid  his  hands  across  his  bretst  and 
ran  out  of  the  house,  screaming  aloud  a«  he  ra-n;  I  ran 
out  of  the  house  and  looked  alter  him,  he  went  towards 
their  own  door,  (  about  forty  or  fifty  yards  ofl',)  he  (|uit 


il 


reek  side, 
and  con- 
)1,  which 
his  bed, 
Idcst  was 
(vo  years 
stol  and 
brother: 
m  to  lot 
1  his  left 
his  riirht 
utioning 
e  trifjgcr, 
ised  him 
)uld  do; 
to  us,  he 
•aid  and 
reatened 
The 
of  the 
per  end 
ad  ob- 
ni — he 
down 
le  butt 
e  ( and 
side  ) 
pistol 

.'  Mew 
st  and 
;  I  i;in 
wards 
e  (|uit 


(  2C>-]  ) 

screaminf];  before  he  fell ; — it  was  late  in  the  evening;  his 
mother  and  grandmother  were  coming  from  their  corn- 
field at  that  instant;  his  grandmother  just  cast  her  eye 
tOAvards  him,  as  she  came  jiast  him,  and  came  to  me 
where  I  was  standing;  before  they  got  near  me,  I  told 
her  that  Watool\  (  for  that  was  his  name,)  had  shot  him- 
self; she  turned  away  from  me  without  saying  any  tiling. 
In  a  short  time  all  tiie  Indians  in  the  town  collected 
about  me,  examining  me,  and  getting  me  to  show  them 
what  way  he  took  to  shoot  himself;  I  told  them  that  he 
took  the  pistol  in  his  left  hand  and  held  the  muzzle  to 
his  stomach,  whilst  he  pushed  the  trigger  from  him  with 
his  thuml):  I  held  to  the  one  story.  At  last  the  woman 
(whom  I  mentioned  had  seen  me  when  1  fled  out  of  the 
house  from  him )  came  an<l  told  them  that  she  was 
standing  out  of  doors  looking  at  me  across  the  bend  of 
the  creek,  at  the  time  she  heard  the  re|)ort  of  the  pistol, 
and  that  I  was  standing  a  considerable  distance  from  the 
house  at  the  time — at  which  they  all  dispersed. 

There  was  something  very  singular  in  this  aflair,  as 
the  same  woman  and  her  husband,  about  a  year  after 
the  above  accident,  was  the  means  of  saving  my  life 
when  I  was  apparently  drowned,  as  I  shall  have  occasion 
to  mention  hereafter. 

It  happened  to  be  the  first  funeral  that  I  had  seen 
amongst  them,  and  not  being  ae(|uainted  with  their  cus- 
toms. I  was  })iit  to  a  terrible  fright;  shortly  after  dark 
they  began  to  lire  off  their  guns,  which  they  always  do 
when  any  one  dies.  As  all  the  family  hud  gone  to  the 
wake,  I  was  left  by  myself  in  the  house ;  when  the  firing 
])egan  I  concluded  that  they  were  about  to  take  mv  lil'c; 
I  therefore  crept  under  a  b(>d  that  was  set  upon  forks 
drove  into  the  ground,  a  considerable  height  off  the  floor, 


I 


•■f: 


;»;;    r 


I    . 


(  264  ) 

where  I  lay  as  close  to  the  wall  as  I  could  get,  till  about 
break  of  day,  wlien  I  was  aroused  by  the  report  of  their 
guns  again.  I  did  not  go  near  the  corpse — however  I 
heard  tliem  say,  that  he  bled  none,  as  the  coifing  and 
the  blaze  of  the  powder  had  followed  the  ball  into  his 
body.  There  were  several  young  squaws  who  had  seen 
us  running  about  with  the  pistol ;  they  fretjuently  charged 
nie  with  being  the  cause  of  the  boy's  death,  which  I  al- 
ways denied,  Init  (^neek-quei'k-co-^woch'-que,  a  little  wliite 
girl,  (  a  prisoner,)  who  lived  with  the  liunily  that  the 
deceased  belonged  to — was  like  to  be  the  worst  evidence 
against  me,  she  told  them  that  she  saw  me  have  the 
pistol  in  my  hands  several  times — but  the  woman's  evi- 
dence overruled  the  whole  of  them  ;  however  their  minds 
were  not  entirely  divested  of  the  thoughts  that  I  had 
taken  his  life,  as  they  often  cast  it  up  to  me  afterwards, 
that  I  had  shot  Wdlook;  especially  when  I  would  hap- 
pen to  get  into  a  quarrel  with  any  of  the  little  fellows, 
they  would  tell  me  that  I  had  killed  one  of  them  al- 
ready, and  that  I  wanted  to  kill  another;  however  I  de- 
clare the  thing  was  merely  accidental. 

When  I  reflect  on  the  above  accident,  and  the  circum- 
stances attending  it,  my  mind  Hows  with  gratitude  to 
that  Almighty  Being  whose  wise  providence  directs  the 
affairs  of  the  world ;  I  do  not  say  that  a  lie  is  justifiable 
in  the  sight  of  God,  yet  I  am  led  to  believe  that  the 
woman  was  guided  by  providence  in  telling  a  manifest 
falsehood,  which,  perhaps,  was  the  means  of  prolonging 
my  days ;  as  I  am  led  to  believe,  had  the  true  circum- 
stances of  the  case  been  known  to  them,  I  never  should 
have  seen  the  light  of  another  day ;  nor  should  I  have 
expected  that  my  body  would  have  been  laid  under  the 
ground,  but  that  I  would  rather  have  been  thrown  into 


i 


(  2G5  ) 


5t,  till  about 
port  of  their 
—however  I 
coifing  and 
all  into  his 
10  had  seen 
itly  charged 
which  I  al- 
little  white 
ly  that  the 
st  ovidence 
le  have  the 
aman's  evi- 
;heir  minds 
iiat  I  had 
afterwards, 
muld  hap- 
:le  fellows, 
them  al- 
^'ever  I  de- 

circum- 
ititude  to 
lirects  the 
justifiable 
that  the 
manifest 
['olonging 
circum- 
[r  should 
|:1  I  have 
ider  the 
)wn  into 


the  creek,  to  be  devoured  by  fish,  or  left  above  ground 
to  be  devoured  by  vermin,  as  I  knew  to  be  the  case  with 
two  men,  which  I  shall  mention  before  I  close  this  narra- 
tive. 

Sometime  in  the  summer  following,  we  went  to  a 
treat  with  the  French  at  Prescju'lle — on  our  way  there, 
wo  went  by  an  Indian  town  at  or  near  where  Meadville 
now  stands:  just  as  we  got  to  the  town,  we  observed  a 
number  of  Batteaux  coming  down  French  Creek ;  the 
French  came  to  the  shore  where  they  were;  one  of  them 
offered  to  ])urchas'  iie  from  tlie  Indians;  he  offered  for 
me  an  old  spade,  wanting  the  handle,  (which,  perhaps, 
was  the  lowest  value  that  ever  was  set  upon  me,)  they 
laughed  scornfully  at  him  for  his  folly :  however,  they 
decamped  immediately,  for  fear  the  F'rench  might  come 
and  steal  me  away  by  night.  When  we  got  to  Presciu'ile, 
I  was  given  up  to  my  Indian  mother  whom  I  had  never 
seen  before.  After  the  treaty  was  over,  my  old  uncle 
returned  to  Shenanggo,  and  left  me  with  my  old  mother 
and  two  brothers  something  older  than  myself;  we  had 
a  step-father  also,  who  hunted  for  us.  We  moved  from 
Presqu'ile  near  to  fort  Le  BeauJ]  where  my  mother  had 
raised  a  small  patch  of  corn;  we  lived  there  till  the  fall, 
occasionally  going  to  the  fort  to  draw  rations,  as  the 
French  constantly  supplied  the  Indians  with  provisions 
whilst  they  lay  about  the  fort.  The  French  always  ob- 
served to  fire  off  a  swivel,  as  a  salute  when  the  Indians 
came  to  the  fort  with  prisoners  or  scalps. 

Towards  fall  my  old  brother,  (I  call  him  old  because 
he  was  the  oldest  of  the  family ;  he  was  not  more  than 
twenty  two  or  three )  came  to  us,  I  had  not  seen  him 
from  the  time  I  was  given  to  him  at  fort  Duijuesne  (  or 
Pittsburg)  till  then;  he  came  to  take  us  to  Shenanggo 


;•  I 


i 

i 


h  ''   E 


I;* 


I       ' 


i 

\ 

1 

i^ 

i 
' 

k  t 

i 

if 


(  2fiG  ) 

to  live  amongst  the  rest  of  our  friends.  We  had  but  one 
horse  to  carry  our  provisions,  our  apparel  we  carried  on 
our  backs  like  the  tarapine,  so  that  we  had  to  travel  on 
foot.  We  were  a  long  time  on  the  way,  as  they  fre- 
quently stopped  three  or  four  days  at  a  place  to  hunt. 
We  arrived  at  Shenanggo  in  the  beginning  of  winter. 
Not  long  after  our  arrival,  I  took  a  severe  turn  of  tiie 
pleurisy,  and  lay  very  ill  for  about  twenty  days ; 
my  old  mother  and  an  old  aunt  paid  great  attention  to 
me;  observing,  with  regard  to  my  drink  and  diet,  as  my 
former  attendant  had  done  l)efore. 

The  next  summer  I  had  like  to  lose  my  life;  all  the 
Indians  of  the  town,  exce{>ting  one  man  and  a  woman, 
were  out  at  their  corn  fields,  leaving  the  young  ones  to 
take  care  of  their  houses.  About  ten  o'clock  of  the  day, 
four  of  the  little  fellows  and  me  went  into  the  creek  to 
bathe  ourselves,  the  creek  is  ])erhaps  about  sixty  or  sev- 
enty yards  wide;  there  is  a  ridge  of  rocks  that  reaches 
across  the  stream,  where  I  had  often  observed  the  Indians 
wading  across;  the  water  being  deep  at  each  side:  I 
ventured  to  wade  over,  and  made  out  very  well,  until  I 
got  about  a  rod  off  the  shore  on  the  opposite  side,  when 
the  water  began  to  get  too  deep  for  me,  I  turned  about, 
proud  of  my  performance. — When  I  had  got  about  half 
way  back  I  missed  my  course,  and  all  at  once  stepped 
over  the  edge  of  the  rocks,  and  w«Mit  down  over  head 
and  ears;  I  made  a  few  springs  as  high  as  I  could  above 
the  water,  at  last  I  swallowed  so  much  water,  and  not 
having  yet  learned  to  swim,  I  was  obliged  to  give  over. 
When  the  little  fellows  who  came  to  bathe  along  with 
me,  saw  that  I  had  given  myself  up,  they  raised  the 
scream. — The  woman  whom  I  mentioned  before,  came 
running  to  the  bank  to  see  what  was  the  matter;  they 


'  -'i 


(  207  ) 


ad  but  one 
carried  on 
^  travel  on 
^  tliey  fre- 
3e  to  hunt, 
of  winter, 
urn  of  the 
Mity  (lays  ; 
ttention  to 
:liet,  as  my 

fe;  all  the 
a  woman, 
ng  ones  to 
of  the  day, 
e  creek  to 
xty  or  pev- 
it  reaches 
e  Indians 
1  side:  I 
11,  until  I 
ide,  when 
ed  about, 
bout  half 
stepped 
.'er  head 
Id  above 
and  not 
ive  over. 
)noj  with 
jsed  the 
e,  came 
t;  they 


told  her  that  Isthu/go-iceh'-hiw/  (for  that  was  the  name 
they  gave  me)  was  drowned.  She  immediately  ran  to 
the  house  and  awaked  her  husband,  who  came  as  quick 
as  possible  (as  they  told  me  afterwards)  to  my  relief;  as 
I  kept  afloat  all  the  time,  he  waded  up  to  his  chin  before 
he  could  get  hold  of  me  by  the  leg,  he  then  trailed  me 
through  the  water  until  he  got  to  the  rocks  that  I  had 
stepped  over,  he  then  laid  me  over  his  shoulder  and 
brought  me  out  to  the  V)ank,  where  he  threw  me  down, 
su])i)Osing  that  I  was  dead.  It  ha))pened  that  my  head 
was  down- hill  ;  the  water  gushed  out  of  my  mouth  and 
nose;  (he  had  ])revi()usly  sent  off  one  of  the  little  boys 
to  inform  my  friends  of  the  accident.)  After  some  time 
I  began  to  show  some  signs  of  life.  He  then  took  me 
by  the  middle,  clasping  his  hands  across  my  belly,  and 
shook  me;  the  water  still  running  plentifully  out  of  my 
mouth  and  nose,  liy  the  time  my  friends  arrived,  I 
began  to  breathe  more  freely.  They  carried  me  up  the 
bank  to  a  week-d-ivaum,  or  house,  and  laid  me  down  on 
a  deer  skin,  where  I  lay  till  about  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon;  at  last  I  awoke  out  of  sleep,  and  was  sur- 
prised to  see  a  great  number  of  Indiarjs  of  both  sexes 
standing  around  me.  I  raised  my  head,  my  old  brother 
advanced  toward  me,  and  said,  "  (tu-moygh-t-ha-hech-a- 
moi(jh,^^  that  is,  rise,  go  and  bathe  yourself.  I  then  recol- 
lected what  I  had  been  doing.  He  told  me  that  if  he 
would  see  me  in  the  creek  again  he  would  drown  me 
out  right;  however,  the  very  next  day  I  was  })addling 
in  the  water  again.  Some  time  whilst  we  resided  at 
Shenanf/-(io,  (j)erhaps  in  the  latter  end  of  Nov.,)  about 
thirty  warriors  returned  tlirough  S/icnfinff-go,  from  a 
tour;  they  were  of  the  Mingo  nation;  they  had  a  num- 
ber of  scalps  with  them,  and  a  prisoner,  a  man  of  about 


i 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


V. 


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c 


>> 


'i 


w 


(  268  ) 

25  years  of  age ;  one  of  the  party  had  got  wounded 
in  the  body ;  the  prisoner  had  a  large  bundle  of  blankets- 
tied  up  and  slung  on  his  back,  with  a  happees',  for  the 
wounded  Indian  to  sit  on.  I  make  no  doubt,  but 
that  he  had  carried  him  the  whole  way  from  where  he 
had  received  the  wound,  which,  I  presume,  could  not 
be  less  than  two  hundred  miles ; — they  tarried  about 
two  hours  in  town,  then  started  off  again — the  prisoner 
had  to  take  the  wounded  Indian  on  his  back  again 
and  march  off:  I  understood  they  had  to  go  a  con- 
siderable distance  beyond  Presqu'ile,  which  I  presume 
could  not  be  less  than  three  hundred  and  fifty,  or  four 
hundred  miles,  that  the  poor  unfortunate  prisoner  had 
to  carry  the  wounded  Indian  on  his  back,  before  they 
would  get  to  their  destination : — however  he  had  one 
advantage  of  what  other  prisoners  had  to  undergo, 
that  was,  he  was  exempted  from  a  severe  beating,  at 
every  town  they  went  through,  before  they  got  to  their 
destination,  which  every  grown  person  has  to  suffer,  as 
I  shall  relate  hereafter.  I  understood  by  them,  that  it 
was  a  general  custom  among  all  their  nations,  that  if 
any  one  happened  to  get  wounded,  that  the  rest  would 
do  their  utmost  to  take  a  prisoner,  or  prisoners,  to  carry 
their  wounded. 

We  lived  about  two  years  and  a  half  in  Shenango. 
We  then  moved  to  where  they  were  settling  a  new  town, 
called  Kseek-he'-oong,  that  is,  a  place  of  salt,  a  place  now 
well  known  by  the  name  of  salt  licks,  on  the  west  branch 
of  Beaver,  where  we  lived  about  one  year:  we  moved 
there  about  the  time  that  General  Forbes  took  fort  Du- 
quesne  from  the  French.  My  brother  had  been  about 
three  years  married ;  they  had  a  young  son  whom  they 
thought  a  great  deal  of;  my  sister-in-law  was  very  cross 


(  269  ) 


wounded 
blankets- 
',  for  the 
»ubt,  but 
where  he 
;ould  not 
ed  about 
prisoner 
ck  again 
0  a  con- 
presume 
',  or  four 
►ner  had 
ore  they 
had  one 
undergo, 
ating,  at 
to  their 
uffer,  as 
that  it 
that  if 
t  would 
0  carry 

nango. 
tvtown, 
ce  now 
branch 
moved 
rt  Du- 
about 
n  they 
r  cross 


to  me,  when  my  brother  was  absent ;  he  had  heard  of  it, 
and  asked  me  when  we  were  by  ourselves,  if  his  wife 
did  not  strike  me  sometimes,  when  he  was  absent,  I 
told  him  she  did,  he  bid  me  to  let  him  know  if  ever 
she  would  strike  me  again ;  not  long  after,  my  brother 
being  absent,  she  went  to  the  corn  field  to  work,  and  left 
her  son  in  my  care ;  as  soon  as  she  left  us,  I  begun  to 
divert  myself  with  a  foot  ball";  the  little  fellow  was  run- 
ning after  me  crying  aloud,  and  his  mother  heard  him. 
While  I  was  engaged  at  my  diversion,  she  came  behind 
me  unnoticed,  and  knocked  me  down  with  the  handle 
of  a  billhook.  I  took  the  first  opportunity  to  inform 
my  brother  how  she  had  treated  me;  he  advised  her  not 
to  treat  me  so  any  more,  telling  her  what  the  conse- 
quence would  be  if  she  did.  She  was  highly  affronted 
at  him,  and  went  off  and  left  us.  About  three  days  after, 
she  came  back,  attended  by  a  female  cousin  of  hers,  to 
carry  ofi'  her  moveables ;  whilst  she  w.as  gathering  up 
her  goods,  my  brother  stepped  out,  and  began  to  try  the 
strength  of  some  small  branches  that  had  been  recently 
chopped  off  a  green  tree ;  at  seeing  that,  she  iled  out  of 
the  house  and  ran  as  fast  as  she  was  able, — he  pursued 
her,  and  whipped  her  severely ;  she  ran  back  to  the  house 
for  protection,  and  squatted  down  behind  his  mother, 
who  had  occasionally  come  to  see  us;  it  put  the  thoughts 
of  leaving  us  out  of  her  head :  neither  did  she  ever  strike 
me  afterwards. 

Sometime  while  we  resided  at  Kscek-h^-oong,  or  salt 
licks,  Mm-sooh'-whese,  or  Ben  Dickson,  invented  a  kind 
of  punishment  to  inflict  on  boys  who  would  do  mischief, 
such  as  quarelling,  plundering  watermelon,  or  cucumber 
patches,  &c.  in  the  following  manner: — there  is  a  kind 
of  fish  that  abounds  in  western  waters,  called  a  gar,  that 


,■1 


I 


( 


i'  i' 


iJ 


i; 


I  i 


(  270  ) 

has  a  very  long  bill,  and  long  sharp  teeth ;  he  took  the 
bill  of  one  of  those  fish,  and  wrapped  a  thin  rag  round 
it,  projecting  the  teeth  through  the  rag.  He  took  any 
one  who  would  do  any  kind  of  mischief,  and  after  wet- 
ting their  thighs  and  legs,  he  would  score  them  from  the 
hip  down  to  the  heel,  three  or  four  times  on  each  thigh 
and  leg,  and  sometimes,  if  they  were  found  guilty,  a 
second  or  third  time — he  would  score  them  from  the  top 
of  the  shoulder  down  to  the  wrists,  and  from  the  top 
of  the  shoulder,  on  the  back,  to  the  contrary  hip,  cross- 
ways.  It  happened  once,  that  a  nephew  of  his,  a  very 
mischievous  boy,  threw  the  entrails  of  a  turtle  in  my  face 
then  ran  off  as  quick  as  he  could  from  me  round  the 
house — I  picked  up  a  stone  and  pursued  him,  and  threw 
it  after  him  ;  it  happened  to  light  on  the  top  of  his  head 
and  knocked  him  down,  and  cut  his  head  badly,  or,  it  is 
probable,  he  would  have  concealed  it,  as  he  well  knew 
what  the  consequence  would  be;  for  his  back,  arms, 
thighs  and  legs  were  almost  constantly  raw  by  the  fre- 
quent punishments  he  got  for  his  mischief. 

However,  Mus-sooh'-ivhese  happened  to  be  out  fishing 
at  the  time;  he  was  informed  when  he  came  home  of 
what  had  taken  place;  I  was  apprehensive  of  what 
would  be  my  doom,  and  was  advised  by  my  friends  to 
hide  myself;  accordingly  I  got  into  a  small  addition  to 
the  house,  where  a  number  of  bails  of  deer  skin  and 
fur  were  piled  up ;  I  had  not  been  long  there  until  I 
heard  him  enquiring  for  me ;  they  told  him  I  had  gone 
down  to  the  creek,  and  was  not  returned  yet:  he  there- 
fore ordered  one  of  my  brothers,  (who  had  been  with 
him  a  fishing  the  day  before,)  to  stand  up  until  he  would 
score  him ;  as  my  brother  was  partly  man  grown,  he 
refused;   a  struggle  ensued — however,  my  brother  was 


(271  ) 


took  the 
ig  round 
ook  any 
ifter  wet- 
from  the 
ch  thigh 
guilty,  a 
1  the  top 
the  top 
Pj  cross- 
8,  a  very 
>  my  face 
)und  the 
id  threw 
his  head 
r,  or,  it  is 
ill  knew 
:,  arms, 
the  fre- 

fishing 
lome  of 
>f  what 
lends  to 
ttion  to 
in  and 
luntil  I 
|d  gone 
there- 
with 
Iwould 
^n,  he 
?r  was 


obliged  to  give  up.  The  reason  he  gave  for  punish- 
ing others  who  were  not  present  at  the  time  the  mis- 
chief was  done,  was,  that  if  they  should  be  present  at 
the  time  that  any  one  was  promoting  mischief,  he  should 
do  his  best  endeavor  to  prevent  it,  or  inform  against 
those  who  had  done  it — as  the  informer  was  always 
exempted  from  the  punishment  aforesaid.  I  then  heard 
him  say,  that,  if  I  was  to  stay  away  a  year  he  would 
score  me;  he  then  went  to  the  creek  on  the  hunt  of  me ; 
after  he  was  gone,  they  told  me  that  I  might  as  well 
come  out  as  conceal  myself;  accordingly  I  did.  In  a 
short  time  he  came  back,  grinning  and  shewing  his 
teeth  as  if  he  had  got  a  prize ;  he  ordered  me  to  stand 
up  at  the  side  of  a  post ;  I  obeyed  his  orders — he  then 
took  and  wet  my  thighs  and  legs,  to  prevent  the  skin 
from  tearing :  he  took  the  gar's  bill,  and  gave  me  four 
scores,  or  scrapes,  with  it,  from  the  point  of  the  hip 
down  to  the  heel — the  mark  of  which  I  will  carry  to  my 
grave. 

My  oldest  brother  was  from  home  at  the  time  the 
above  punishment  was  inflicted  on  us ;  he  came  home 
that  same  night;  I  scarcely  ever  saw  him  more  out  of 
humour,  than  when  he  found  the  way  we  had  been 
treated.  He  said,  (whether  he  was  in  earnest  or  not,  I 
cannot  tell,)  that  if  he  had  been  at  home,  he  would 
have  applyed  his  tim-ma-heck'-atn^  to  MaH-sooh'-whese'a 
head,  rather  than  suffer  such  an  ignominious  punish- 
ment, as  he  conceived  it,  to  be  inflicted  on  any  of  his 
ftimily.  However,  he  told  Mus-sooh'-whcse,  never  to  do 
the  like  again  without  his  consent. 

I  was  very  near  being  innocently  punished,  about  a 
year  afterwards,  notwithstanding  I  had  more  than  a 
dozen  witnesses  to  prove  that  I  was  not,  the  course  of 


J! 


(  272  ) 

that  day,  where  the  mischief  was  done;  which  was  only 
the  plundering  of  a  watermelon  patch. 

Whilst  we  were  living  at  Kaeek-he'-oong,  one  Andrew 
Wilkins,  a  trader,  came  to  the  town,  and  was  taken  ill 
while  there — he  sent  me  to  the  other  end  of  the  town 
with  some  beads,  to  purchase  a  fowl  for  him,  to  work 
off  a  physic  with ;  when  I  came  back,  he  was  sitting 
alone  in  the  house :  as  he  could  talk  the  Indian  tongue 
tolerably  well,  he  began  to  question  we  about  where  I 
was  taken  from?  I  told  him  from  Conocooheague — he 
asked  my  name ;  I  told  him.  As  soon  as  he  returned 
to  Shippensburg,  (which  was  his  place  of  residence,)  he 
informed  mv  father  that  he  had  seen  me,  which  was  the 
first  account  they  received  of  me,  from  the  time  I  was 
taken. — The  next  er  ring,  we  moved  to  a  town  about 
fifteen  miles  off',  called  Mo-hon'-ing,  which  signifies  a 
lick.  Some  time  in  the  summer  following,  my  father 
came  to  Mo-hon'-ing,  and  found  me  out.  I  was  shy  in 
speaking  to  him,  even  by  an  interpreter,  as  I  had  at 
that  time  forgot  my  mother  tongue.  My  Indian  brother 
not  being  at  home,  my  father  returned  to  Pittsburg 
and  left  me. 

My  brother  was  gone  to  Tm-ca-la-ways,  about  forty  or 
fifty  miles  off*,  to  see  and  hear  a  prophet  that  had  just 
made  his  appearance  amongst  them;  he  was  of  the 
Delaware  nation  ;  I  never  saw  nor  heard  him.  It  was 
said,  by  those  who  went  to  see  him,  that  he  had  certain 
hieroglyphics  marked  on  a  piece  of  parchment,  denot- 
ing the  probation  that  human  beings  were  subjected  to 
whilst  they  were  living  on  earth,  {md  also,  denoting 
something  of  a  future  state.  They  informed  me,  that  he 
was  almost  constantly  crying  whilst  he  was  exhorting 
them.    I  saw  a  copy  of  his  hieroglyphics,  as  numbers 


I    1.1.  iwwj 


was  only 

Andrew 
taken  ill 
ihe  town 

to  work 
iS  sitting 
n  tongue 
where  I 
igue — he 
returned 
fnce,)  he 

WHS  the 
e  I  was 
n  about 
;nifies  a 
y  father 
I  shy  in 

had  at 

brother 
ittsburg 

brty  or 

ad  just 

of  the 

It  was 

certain 

denot- 

cted  to 

noting 

lat  he 

orting 

mbers 


(  27:J  ) 

of  them  had  got  them  copyed  and  undertook  to  preach, 
or  instruct  others.  The  first,  (or  principal  doctrine,) 
they  taught  them,  was  to  purify  themselves  from  sin, 
which  they  taught  they  could  do  by  the  use  of  emetics, 
and  abstainence  from  carnal  knowledge  of  the  different 
sexes ;  to  quit  the  use  of  fire  arms,  and  to  live  entirely 
in  the  original  state  that  they  were  in  before  the  white 
people  found  out  their  country,  nay,  they  taught  that 
fire  was  not  pure  that  was  made  by  steel  and  flint, 
but  that  they  should  make  it  by  rubbing  two  sticks  to- 
gether, which  I  have  frequently  assisted  to  do,  in  the 
following  manner:  take  a  piece  of  red  cedar,  have  it  well 
seasoned,  get  a  rod  of  bortree  well  seasoned,  gouge  out 
a  small  bit  with  the  point  of  a  knife,  cut  of!'  the  cedar 
about  an  eighth  of  an  inch  from  the  edge,  set  the  end  of 
the  bortree  in  it,  having  first  stuck  u  knife  in  tlie  side 
of  the  cedar,  to  keep  the  dust  that  will  rub  out  by  the 
friction;  then  take  it  between  the  hands,  and  rub  it, 
pressing  hard  on  the  cedar  and  rubbing  as  quick  as  pos- 
sible; in  about  half  a  minute  the  fire  will  kindle.  It 
was  said,  that  their  prophet  taught  them,  or  made  them 
believe,  that  he  had  his  instructions  immediately  from 
Keesh-sh^ -la-mil' -lang-up,  or  a  being  that  thought  us  into 
being,  and  that  by  following  his  instructions,  they 
would,  in  a  few  years,  be  able  to  drive  the  white  people 
out  of  their  country. 

I  knew  a  company  of  them,  who  had  secluded  them- 
selves for  the  purpose  of  purifying  from  sin,  as  they 
thought  they  could  do;  I  believe  they  made  no  use  of 
fire-arms.  They  had  been  out  more  than  two  years  be- 
fore I  left  them ;  whether  they  conformed  rigidly  to  the 
rules  laid  down  to  them  by  their  prophet,  I  am  not  able 
to  say  with  any  degree  of  certainty, — but  one  thing  I 

R 


ll 

\ 

i 

i 

i 

i 

• 

: 

H 


*  Mali-tau'-tooh,  or  the  Devil,  standing  in  a  Hame  of  fire,  with 
open  arms  to  receive  the  wicked. 


»«    mil 


.■^Si\ 


(  275  ) 

know,  that  several  women  resorted  to  their  encampments  • 
it  was  said,  that  they  made  use  of  no  other  weapons 
than  their  bows  and  arrows:  they  also  taught,  in  shaking 
hands,  to  give  the  left  hand  in  token  of  friendship,  as  it 
denoted  that  they  gave  the  heart  along  with  the  hand, 
— but  I  believe  that  to  have  been  an  ancient  custom 
among  them,  and  I  am  rather  of  opinion,  that  the  prac- 
tice is  a  caution  against  enemies — that  is,  if  any  violence 
should  be  offered,  they  would  have  the  right  hand  ready 
to  seize  their  tim-ma-heek'-can,  or  tomahawk,  or  their 
paughk-aheek'-can,  or  knife,  to  defend  themselves,  if  neces- 
sary. I  might  here  insert  many  other  principles,  which 
they  said,  were  taught  them  by  their  prophet;  but  I 
shall  pass  over  them,  and  mark  down  a  copy  of  their 
hieroglyphics,  without  explaining  them,  or  at  least  but 
briefly. 

They  taught  that  all  those  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
square  surface,  or  the  world,  (  represented  in  the  plate 
opposite,)  went  immediately  after  death  to  heaven — and 
part  of  those  on  the  uppermost  square,  to  the  left ;  those 
on  the  lowest  s(]uare  to  the  left,  are  those  who  are 
abandonedly  wicked;  they  go  immediately  on  the  road 
that  leads  to  hell. — The  places  marked  A,  B,  C,  are 
where  the  wicked  have  to  undergo  a  certain  degree  of 
punishment,  before  they  are  admitted  into  heaven — 
and  that  each  of  those  places  are  a  flame  of  fire — the 
place  on  the  right  hand  line,  or  road  to  heaven,  marked 
D,  denotes  a  pure  spring  of  water,  where  those  who  have 
been  punished  at  the  aforesaid  places,  stop  to  quench 
their  thirsts,  after  they  had  un<lergone  a  )>urgation  by 
fire*. — It  must  be  observed,  that  the  places  marked  A, 

*  It  would  appear,  by  the  above  recital,  as  if  they  had  some  idea 
of  the  Popish  tenet  of  purgatory. 


1 

1 

>i. 

1 

1 

1 

1 
<■ 

\ 

1 

1 

V 

< 

11 


I 


'  <, 


11- 


(  276  ) 

B,  C,  differed,  (as  they  taught)  in  degree  of  heat,  still 
as  the  mark,  or  hieroglyphic  decreases  in  size,  it  increases 
about  one  third  more  in  heat — the  first  is  not  as  hot  as 
the  second  by  one-third,  nor  the  second  as  the  third,  in 
the  same  proportion. 

The  fall  following,  my  father  went  out  to  fort  Ven- 
enggo,  or  French  Creek,  along  with  Wilkins.    Wilkins 
sent  a  special  messenger  to  Mohoning,  for  my  brother  to 
take  me  to  Venenggo,  telling  him  that  my  father  would 
purchase  me  from  him ;  accordingly  he  took  me  off 
without  letting  me  know  his  intention,  or,  it  is  probable, 
I  would  not  have  gone  with  him;  when  we  got  to  Ven- 
enggo, we  encamped  about  a  mile  from  the  garrison ;  my 
brother  went  to  the  garrison  to  bargain  with  my  father 
for  me,  but  told  me  nothing  of  it.    The  next  morning 
my  father  and  two  others  came  to  our  camp,  and  told 
me  that  my  brother  wanted  to  see  me  at  the  fort ;  I  went 
along  with  them ;  when  we  got  there  he  told  me  that  I 
must  go  home  with  my  father,  to  see  my  mother  and 
the  rest  of  my  friends  ;  I  wept  bitterly ,  all  to  no  purpose ; 
my  father  was  ready  to  start ;  they  laid  hold  of  me  and 
set  me  on  a  horse,  I  threw  myself  ofl";  they  set  me  on 
again,  and  tied  my  legs  under  the  horse's  belly,  and 
started  away  for  Pittsburg ;  we  encamped  about  ten  or 
fifteen  miles  from  Venenggo ;  before  we  lay  down,  my 
father  took  his  garters  and  tied  my  arms  behind  my 
back  ;  however,  I  had  them  loose  before  my  father  lay 
down ;  I  took  care  to  keep  it  concealed  from  them  by 
keeping  my  arms  back  as  if  they  were  tied.    About 
midnight,  I  arose  from  between  my  father  and  John 
Simeons,  who  was  to  accompany  us  to  Pittsburg;    I 
stepped  out  from  the  fire  and  sat  down  as  if  I  had  a  real 
necessity  for  doing  so;  my  father  and  Simeons  arose  and 


(  277  ) 


eat,  still 
increases 
IS  hot  as 
third,  in 

)rt  Ven- 
Wilkins 
other  to 
r  would 

me  off 
robable, 
toVen- 
ion ;  my 
y  father 
norning 
nd  told 

I  went 
>  that  I 
er  and 
irpose ; 
ne  and 

me  on 
y,  and 

;en  or 
my 
my 

3r  lay 
by 

^bout 

John 

'g;  I 

real 
and 


mended  up  the  fire;  whilst  they  were  laying  the  chunks 
together — I  ran  off  as  fast  as  I  could.     I  had  got  near  a 
hundred  yards  from  the  camp,  when  I  heard  them  hunt- 
ing a  large  dog,  which  they  had  along  with  them,  after 
me ;  I  thought  the  dog  would  certainly  overtake  me ;  I 
therefore  climbed  up  a  tall  tree,  as  fast  as  I  could ;  the 
dog  stopped  at  the  root  of  the  tree,  but  as  they  continued 
to  hunt  him  on,  he  ran  off'  again — they  came  past  the 
tree ;  after  they  passed  by  me,  I  climbed  further  up,  un- 
til I  got  to  some  limbs,  where  I  could  rest  myself;  the 
dog  came  back  to  the  tree  again, — after  a  short  time  they 
came  back  and  stood  a  considerable  time  at  the  root  of 
the  tree — then  returned  to  the  fire ;  I  could  see  them 
distinctly  from  where  I  was ;  I  remained  on  the  tree 
about  an  hour ;  I  then  went  down  and  steered  through 
the  woods  till  I  found  the  road ;  I  went  about  two  or 
three  miles  along  it,  and  the  wolves  were  making  a  hide- 
ous noise  all  around  me :  I  went  off"  the  road  a  short  dis- 
tance and  climbed  up  a  dogwood  sapling,  and  fixed  my- 
self on  the  branches  of  it,  where  I  remained  till  break 
of  day ;  I  then  got  on  the  road  again ;  I  ran  along  as  fast 
as  I  was  able,  for  about  five  miles,  where  I  came  to  an 
Indian  camp :  ihey  told  me  that  I  had  better  not  keep  the 
road,  alledging  that  I  would  certainly  be  pursued ;  I  took 
their  advice  and  went  off"  the  road  immediately,  and 
steered  through  the  woods  till  I  got  to  where  my  friends 
were  encamped ;  they  advised  me  to  take  along  the  road 
that  we  came,  when  we  came  there,  telling  me  that  they 
were  going  to  return  home  that  day  ;  I  made  no  delay, 
but  went  on  .about  ten  miles,  and  there  waited  till  they 
came  up  with  me.     Not  long  after  I  left  them,  my  father 
came  to  the  camp ;  they  denied  that  they  had  seen  me 
— supposing  that  I  had  gone  on  to  Mohoning  by  myself. 


I 


i 


r  r^ 


>  i 


(  278  ) 

on  their  &1I  hunt,  takTn7„  °  ^      ''™"'''«'  "^ey  setou? 
o»nili  some  time^!:    ?„";:;!"''''  ""-""^ ''«  ^<->^ 

^Ve  lived  about  a  mile  „  ^t    f  ,,  ,     ""  '''"•"•ned. 
-metrade.atA'^.rA':::;";,  '°  «-»«;  '""«  --e 

horse  from  one  Tom  Green  at  .""""''^  '""'  ^^le  a 
th-fto  Mohoning;  he  ^ '^on  tt' '„  T  """'""  '"« 
Green  came  after  him     Gre»n  "    °.  I     trapping  when 
Indian's  return  with  the  ho,^  "t^" '"l'^"  ^-y^  <">  the 
"■dnight,  there  came  an  a W  It  """^  "'^'ht,  about 
hallooing  <2„«.„A',  ««!]  "enet  LT    ^^.  "'"'  """"-^d  b^ 
a  certain  intervals.    When  wo^h?'".'""""^  "'  "  '"»-- 
oldest  brother  went  off  to  the  !„''  "''  "'"""'  ".y 
matter.    I„  about  two  hodrs  1  e  re,' '"  "'f  '^'""  ""»  'he 
h.m  what  was  the  matter-  e  old  hT^.f '  '"''"  "*«<» 
foobsh  young  fellows  that  had  In     ,^"/  """^  "o™" 
G>-een  did  not  seem  tol  11?,    "•'/'"  '"^«'«'on. 
However,  about  sun-ri-e    )L         -T"  "'"'  'h«  answer. 

"y  adopted  brother  "nVhrTn't'-  ^'"'  ^'"'i-. 
Ben  Dickson,  among  th^whh,  """"  "^^  "-e  name  of 
house;  he  had  a  pistol  and  n         """P'"^'^  <""»«  ««  our 
cealed  under  his  blanket  tV^'^'  ""'"'"«  '""fe.  «on. 
informed  A'^-W^S   (tr' Z" '  '*'  ''"''^'   »« 
brother's  name,)  that  he  cam!  t.  t  n  T  "^  -"^oP'^d 

Ai<-W-*„.fe„rf endeavored, o  /  ^°'"  G-'e^n;  but 

walked  out  logetheT  !n!f  r''"^"'"''"'™offit.    They 

deavouring,  as  f    p^o  e   to  "!"  '"''T"  "-'»'  »" 
alarm  the  night  before    „'  ashorTtr  It  '''"^'  "'^  ">« 

the  house,  and  i^medirte,;  :;„»  om  '^ '''""'^'' "> 

y   >vent  out  again.    Green 


ake  me  to 

I  of  taking 
ey  set  out 
;  we  staid 
rned. 
lere  were 
■ly  in  the 
(I  stole  a 
sued  the 
fig  when 
fs  on  the 
it,  about 
-ified  by 
t  a  time, 
rm,  my 
was  the 
n  asked 
iis  some 
version, 
answer. 

ndian, 

ime  of 

to  our 
con- 
He 

opted 
;  but 

They 
en- 

•f  the 

ed  to 

rreen 


(  279  ) 

asked  me  to  brin^*  him  his  horse,  as  we  heard  the  bell  a 
short  distance  off;  he  then  went  after  the  Indians  again, 
and  I  went  for  the  horse ;  as  I  was  returning,  I  observed 
them  coming  out  of  a  house,  about  two  hundred  yards 
from  ours;  Ket-tooh'-ha-lend  was  foremost,  Green  in  the 
middle;  I  took  but  slight  notice  of  them,  until  I  heard 
the  report  of  a  pistol ;  I  cast  my  eyes  towards  them,  and 
observed  the  smoke,  and  saw  Green  standing  on  the  side 
of  the  path,  with  his  hands  across  his  breast;  I  thought 
it  had  been  him  that  shot:  he  stood  a  few  moments, 
then  fell  on  his  face  across  the  pnth ;  I  instantly  got  off 
the  horse,  and  held  him  by  the  bridle, — Kct-tooh'-ha-lcnd 
sunk  his  pipe  tomahawk  into  his  skull ;  Mus-songh'-whcse 
stabbed  him  under  the  arm-pit  with  his  scalping  knife. 
He  had  shot  him  between  the  shoulders  with  his  i)istol ; 
the  squaws  gathered  about  him,  and  stripped  him  naked, 
trailed  him  down  the  bank,  and  })lunged  him  into  the 
creek;  there  was  a  fresh  in  the  creek,  at  the  time,  which 
carried  him  off.  Mua-souffh'-ivhese  then  came  to  me, 
( where  I  was  holding  the  horse,  as  I  had  not  moved 
from  the  spot  where  I  was  when  Green  was  shot,)  with 
the  bloody  knife  in  his  hand ;  he  told  me  that  he  was 
coming  to  kill  me  next ;  he  reached  out  his  hand  and 
took  hold  of  the  bridle,  telling  me  that,  that  was  his  horse ; 
I  was  glad  to  parley  with  him  on  the  terms,  and  delivered 
the  horse  to  him.  All  the  Indians  in  the  town  inmie- 
diately  collected  together,  and  started  o(V  to  the  salt  licks, 
where  the  rest  of  the  traders  were,  and  murdered  the 
whole  of  them,  and  divided  their  goods  amongst  them, 
aad  likewise  their  horses.  My  adopted  brother  took 
two  horse  loads  of  beaver  skin,  and  set  off  with  them  to 
Tiis-ca-law'-ways,  where  a  number  of  traders  resided,  and 
sold  the  fur  to  them.    There  happened  to  be  an  old  In- 


(  280  ) 

fur  from  him,  asauring  them  S?  ""^S  *"  ""'"'"««  «>« 
traders-to  convince  ^hem    he    .!   ^  T'*'"''' '""« 
sk-na  wore  marlced  with  rmanvlT''  """"  '^at  the 
oonvinced  him  in  hia  oZZl^""""'"  >""*.  which 
far  or  some  other  motive    W  ,T"'  '"■"'^''  t^rongh 
fe;  the  same  evening  o,d  Daniel  07^?"  """''  '"'  '^e 
them,  assuring  them    (,„,  C^         "'''"'^<'  his  service  to 
<'"«'  them  saff  in  J'^ii^f^^'';-^  endeavour  to  con" 
not  take  his  advice,  he  wa^  f '  f '"'S  "'*'  'f  they  would 
dered  by  day  light 'the  ne^t  1  '    "^  "'""''^  ^'  »"  "»"- 
vice,  and  as  they  lived  ablrf'  "'"^  ^°^  his  ad- 
had  «"  opportunity  of  goin"?  '"''^"'"  "^ 'own,  they 
covered ;  they  started  sho'rX'aS"f°"'  ''^'"S  <>'- 
«ed  by  the  Indians,  Icav  ng  all  th  "  '  "'  ™'  ^""J""" 
h>nd  them;  how  many  there  wL/5,  "^'''^handise  be- 
collect  of  hearing;  however   !  r  f """"'  ^  '^°  "ot  re- 
«afe  until  they  go  to^'     a  .    ^  ^^"'^'  'hey  went  on 
at  the  confluence  onheBtv"^' .""  °"  ^"^-n  'own 
came  to  an  Indian  camDunr       ""''  ^hio,  where  they 
had  discovered  ty^eTLZTZ'Tl'''':'''''''''''^^^ 
they  were  ready  for  them    as  soLTn'''  "'"  <"""?'  "« 
appearance,  the  Indians  fired  on  t^     '^  '"°''«  "'eir 
them  fell,  excepting  old  Danfel  !  ?""~"'^  '"'"'^  o^ 
"■ade  his  escape  into  Pit,  k      '    ""^  °"«  Calhoun,  who 
let  Bhot  into  hfs  saddle    m''"^L°''^  ^"'"^I  had  ^  Tui? 
which  I  frequently  saw  tZ'T'''"'';'™-  *he  mark  of 
to  his  friends.  '  ^^'^^  '"'  "ade  his  escape  back 

a»^<^rL"L'r  ^h^ni^rr/'-r  y "'"'  ~*^<i 

menced.    .Shortly  after  th.  '  "''''"  *he  war  com- 


the  name 
ihase  the 
red  some 
that  the 
cs,  which 
through 
8  for  the 
Jrvice  to 
'  to  con- 
y  would 
ill  mur- 

his  ad- 
m,  they 
ng  dis- 
conject- 
[ise  be- 
not  re- 
ent  on 
n  town 
they 

idians 

ip,  as 

their 

)le  of 
|,  who 
bul- 
Irk  of 

back 

lated 
tom- 

var, 

3ar- 


(  281  ) 

ried  away  several  horse  loads  of  leather,  they  also  com- 
mitted several  depredations  along  the  Juniata;  it  hap- 
pened to  be  at  a  time  when  the  small-pox  was  in  the 
settlement  where  they  were  murdering,  the  consequence 
was,  a  number  of  them  got  infected,  and  some  died  be- 
fore they  got  home,  others  shortly  after ;  those  who  took 
it  after  their  return,  were  immediately  moved  out  of  the 
town,  and  put  under  the  care  of  one  who  had  had  the 
disease  before.  In  one  of  their  excursions,  they  took 
some  prisoners — amongst  them  was  one  of  thy  name  of 
Beaty,  whom  they  beat  unmercifully,  when  they  took 
him  to  Mohoning;  they  set  him  to  make  bridles  for  them, 
( that  is  to  fill  old  bits,)  of  the  leather  they  took  from 
Pittsburg;  he  appeared  very  cross;  he  would  often  run 
at  the  little  fellows  with  his  knife  or  awls,  when  they 
came  to  look  at  him  where  he  was  at  work :  however, 
they  soon  took  him  off  to  Cay-a-haw'-ge,  a  town  not  far 
distant  from  Lake  Erie. 

We  remained  in  Mohoning  till  shortly  after  the  mem- 
orable battle  at  Brushy  Run :  we  then  moved  to  Caya- 
haw'-ge;  the  day  before  we  got  there,  they  began  to  be 
alarmed  at  Beaty's  behaviour;  they  held  a  council,  and 
agreed  to  kill  him,  least  he  should  take  some  of  their 
lives.  They  led  him  about  fifty  or  sixty  perches  out  of 
the  town,  some  walking  before  and  some  behind  him  ; 
they  then  shot  him  with  arrows !  I  went  out  the  even- 
ing after  we  got  there,  along  with  some  little  fellows,  to 
see  him;  he  was  a  very  disagreeable  sight  to  behold; 
they  had  shot  a  great  number  of  arrows  into  his  body — 
then  went  off  and  left  him  exposed  to  the  vermin  ! 

The  same  year  that  Beaty  was  taken,  Ket-tooh' -ha-lend 
was  their  Moy-a-sooh'-ivhese,  or  foreman,  of  a  party  con- 
sisting of  nine  Indians;  they  came  to  a  house  where 


?'  i 


li 


!^     i 


M 


(  282  ) 

to  scald  ii^Ket.Lh'.h„^Z\Z.'-^'''  """"»«  ^«»4 
■•f»t  stopped  at  the  outsWe   T^  'TV"""  '">™«-the 

shoved  her  out  of  the  door 'and  to^f.  ""^  ""'"'»'  »"<! 
of  her;  one  of  them  broke  out  'f     '^'  '■«^"»  '»'<«  care 
Off,  whilst  the  other  catehed T'ld    /'!-"''  ""''  '»»'^o 
he  arms,  &  endeavour  d  to  out  h -^  A*«'.Aa.fe«rf  by 
■«g  water,  shoving  him  back  to^^r  """ '""  P"'  ""'oii- 
where  t^o  guns  were  standing    h  "'"'"f '  "^  *•>«  '>0"«e, 
called  on  the  rest  to  comeTn  "oT,     r,!'^  '"'  ^'"^'"^^^^ 
them  would  venture  in     The !.  '  '""'  """"  °^ 

■ng about,  either  for assista„ce";fer fT'^'^'^  '""''- 
Ind'ans;  at  last  he  observed  .h""' '*■'' "^  "'e 
queue-he  therefore,  after  1,p'  ?""  """l  «  long 

"atehedhisopportu^i;  andsudT  T'""^'  ^-ha-^ted' 
op  behind  the  man's  ^ck    and       7"'""« '"'^ '>»"d 
queue,  jerked  his  head  back  bt »."?'""  '""'''  "^  •"« 
other  arm  disengaged,  and  dre^b.t'r-  """"' '"'  ^°'  ^is 
tomahawk,  and  knocked  h,m  1   k  ^l"'T-^t'-'''n,  or 
g^eat  mortification,  when  h^  °"     '  ''"'"^-    «"'  ^  his 

"Oman  whom  he  had  shoved  ouT^Ari'''^  '■""""  "'« 
and  scalped.  '^''''  °"'  of  the  door,  lying  dead 

We  stayed  but  a  short  ♦! 
nioved  across  the  country   ^1'"^  '^^-'-'^V.  then 
«««J^,  which  signifies  clear  ev»  'f'  ^"^  Ifoosh-ting-. 

with  a  certain  kind  offi  ,  ThTt  T  ""  "^^'  "'«""«'^ 
from  thence  we  took  u«  h»  .  ?"■"  ^'''''y  "lear  eyes: 
and  irom  thence  I  kno;;';:';!:'  '''"''  '"  "^  --. 

tions,  e«fprXt  we':„'S';rv  h'""'"*' ""'  P-«""a- 
Winter;  we  sometimes  !d  to  Ir^"'  "  ''"'"«  '"  the 
'"•^ey  quills  for  food,  by  ^mming  t^rf  "^  f-^  of 

fe  mem  under  hot  embers 


lied  a  hog, 
ing  ready 
ouse— the 
nian  and 
take  care 
nd  made 
a-lend  by 
otofboil- 
^e  house, 
equently 
t  none  of 
tly  look- 
8t  of  the 

a  long 
hausted, 
lis  hand 
d  of  his 

got  his 
•can,  or 

to  his 

d  the 
g  dead 

then 
kiriff- 

ounds 

eyes; 

ource, 

jrina- 
n  the 
us  of 
ibers 


(  283  ) 

till  they  would  swell  and  get  crisp.  We  have  subsisted 
on  gum  bark,  and  sometimes  on  white  plantain ;  but  the 
greater  part  of  our  time  on  a  certain  kind  of  root  that  has 
something  of  the  resemblance  of  a  potatoe. 

In  the  spring  we  returned  to  the  west  branch  of  Moosh- 
kinr/'Oong,  and  settled  in  a  new  town  which  we  called 
Kta-ho'-ling,  which  signifies  a  place  where  roots  has  been 
dug  up  for  food.    We  remained  there  during  the  summer. 

Sometime  in  the  summer,  whilst  we  were  living  at 
Kta-ho'-ling,  a  great  number  of  Indians  collected  at  the 
forks  of  Moos-king' -oong,  perhaps  there  were  about  three 
hundred  or  upwards;  their  intention  was  to  come  to  the 
settlements  and  make  a  general  massacre  of  the  whole 
people,  without  any  regard  to  age  or  sex ;  they  were  out 
about  ten  days  when  the  most  of  them  returned ;  hav- 
ing held  a  council,  they  concluded  that  it  was  not  safe 
for  them  to  leave  their  towns  destitute  of  defence.  How- 
ever, several  small  parties  went  on,  to  difl'erent  parts  of 
the  settlements:  it  happened  that  three  of  them,  whom 
I  was  well  acquainted  with,  came  to  the  neighborhood 
of  where  I  was  taken  from — they  were  young  fellows, 
perhaps  none  of  them  more  than  twenty  years  of  age, — 
they  came  to  a  school  house,  where  they  murdered  and 
scalped  the  master  and  all  the  scholars,  except  one,  who 
survived  after  he  was  scalped,  a  boy  about  ten  years  old, 
and  a  full  cousin  of  mine.  I  saw  the  Indians  when 
they  returned  home  with  the  scalps;  some  of  the  old 
Indians  were  very  much  displeased  at  them  for  killing 
so  many  children,  especially  Xeep-paugh'-ichese,  or  night 
walker,  an  old  chief,  or  half  king, — he  ascribed  it  to 
cowardice,  which  was  the  greatest  affront  he  could  offer 
them. 

In  tiie  fall  we  were  alarmed  by  a  report  that  tiie  white 
people  were  marching  out  against  them,  winch,  in  a 


( 


^ 


1 


hi 


(  284  ) 

short  time,  proved  to  be  true ;  Col.  Boquett,  with  an 
army,  was  then  actually  marching  out  against  them. 
As  the  Delaware  nation  was  always  on  the  frontier, 
(which  was  the  nation  I  was  amongst,)  they  had  the 
first  notice  of  it,  and  immediately  gave  the  alarm  to  the 
other  nations  adjoining  them;  a  council  was  called: 
the  result  was,  that  they  were  scarce  of  ammunition,  and 
were  not  able  to  fight  him,  that  they  were  then  desti- 
tute of  clothing,  and  that,  upon  the  whole,  it  was  best 
to  come  on  terms  of  peace  witli  the  white  people.  Ac- 
cordingly they  sent  off  special  messengers  to  meet  the 
army  on  their  march,  in  order  to  let  them  know  that 
they  were  disposed  to  come  on  terms  of  peace  with 
them.  The  messengers  met  the  army  at  Tuscalaways. 
They  crept  up  to  the  camp  after  dark,  and  informed  the 
guard  that  they  were  sent  by  their  nation  to  sue  for 
peace.  The  commander  of  the  army  sent  for  them  to 
come  into  camp,  they  went  and  delivered  their  mission. 
The  colonel  took  care  to  take  hostages  for  their  fidelity ; 
the  remainder  were  suffered  to  return :  but  he  told  them 
he  would  march  his  army  on  to  Mooshking-oong,  Avhere 
he  expected  to  meet  their  chiefs  and  warriors,  to  come 
on  terms  of  peace  with  him,  assuring  them  at  the  same 
time,  that  he  would  not  treat  with  them,  but  upon  con- 
dition, that  they  would  deliver  up  all  the  prisoners  they 
had  in  their  possession.  The  messengers  returned,  and 
gave  a  narr  )f  their  mission.    The  Sha-a-noo' -wacL 

or  Shawane»c,  were  not  satisfied  with  the  terms ;  how- 
ever as  the  Delawares  had  left  hostages  with  the  com- 
mander *f  the  army,  the  Shawanese  acquiesced  to  come 
on  term  ,  of  peace,  jointly  with  the  other  tribes.  Accord- 
ingly the  army  marched  on  to  Moosh-king'-oong.  The 
day  they  arrived  there,  an  express  was  sent  off  to  one  of 


■■■nwii 


mm 


(  285  ) 


tt,  with  an 
inst  them, 
le  frontier, 
!y  had  the 
arm  to  the 
^as  called: 
nition,  and 
hen  desti- 
was  best 
ople.     Ac- 
3  meet  the 
enow  that 
eace  with 
jcalaways. 
3rraed  the 
to  sue  for 
r  them  to 
mission, 
fidelity; 
old  them 
^g,  where 
to  come 
he  same 
on  con- 
ers  they 
ed,  and 
>o'-wacky 
how- 
e  com- 
come 
ccord- 
.    The 
one  of 


their  nearest  towns,  to  inform  them  that  they  were  ready 
to  treat  with  them.  We  then  lived  about  ten  miles  from 
Moosh-kin^-oong;  accordingly  they  took  all  the  prisoners 
to  the  camp,  myself  amongst  the  rest,  and  delivered  us 
up  to  the  army.  We  were  immediately  put  under  a 
guard, — a  few  days  after,  we  were  sent  under  a  strong 
guard  to  Pittsburg.  On  our  way  two  of  the  prisoners 
made  their  escape,  to  wit:  one  Rhoda  Boyd  and  Eliza- 
beth Studibaker,  and  went  back  to  the  Indians.  I  never 
heard  whether  they  were  ever  brought  back  or  not; 
there  were  about  two  hundred  of  us — we  were  kept  a  few 
days  in  Pittsburg.  There  was  one  John  Martin,  from 
the  big  cove,  came  to  Pittsburg  after  his  family,  who 
had  been  taken  by  the  Indians  the  fall  before  I  was 
taken :  b*^  got  leave  from  the  colonel  to  bring  me  down 
alonp"  .  his  family:  I  got  home  about  the  middle  of 
DeceuiDer,  17(>4,  being  absent  (as  I  heard  my  parents 
say)  eight  years,  four  months,  and  sixteen  days.  Pre- 
vious to  my  return,  my  father  had  sold  his  plantation, 
where  I  was  taken  from,  and  bought  another  about  four 
miles  from  the  former,  where  I  have  resided  ever  since. 
When  I  reflect  on  the  various  scenes  of  life,  I  came 
through,  during  my  Captivity, — Methinks  I  see  the  hand 
of  Providence,  remarkably  conspicuous,  throughout  the 
whole.  First,  what  but  the  hand  of  Providence  directed 
them  to  take  us  alive,  when  our  scalps  might  have 
answered  the  same  purpose?  or  that  they  should,  when 
apparently  in  danger,  risk  their  lives  by  the  incum- 
brance of  us,  by  carrying  us  on  their  backs  ?  Secondly, 
that  they  should  not  have  drowned  me  outright,  when 
they  washed  me  in  the  Alleghany  river?  Thirdly,  that 
they  took  any  care  of  me,  when  I  was  apparently  on  the 
point  of  death,  by  two  severe  fits  of  sickness?   Fourthly, 


fe 


:m^mmiH-.-wiiK^mir^f^mm^m^Km 


h 


(  286  ) 

that  they  should  have  taken  any  notice  of  me,  when  I 
was,  to  all  appearance,  drowned  at  Shenanggo?  nay,  I 
have  often  thought  that  the  hand  of  Providence  guided 
me  in  making  my  escape  from  my  father,  as,  in  all 
probability,  I  would  have  been  at  tlie  school,  where  the 
master  and  scholars  were  murdered,  as  I  had  two 
cousins  among  the  number,  one  of  whom  was  scalped, 
and  who,  I  believe,  is  yet  alive; — or  even  when  Mus- 
sough'-whese  came  to  me,  after  he  had  murdered  Green, 
with  the  bloody  knife  in  his  hand.  I  say,  methinks  I 
I  see  the  hand  of  Providence  remarkably  displayed 
throughout  the  whole. 

How  often  are  we  exposed  to  dangers,  which  we  have 
neither  had  knowledge  of,  nor  power  to  prevent  ?  I 
could  have  related  many  dangers  that  I  was  exposed  to, 
during  my  captivity,  which  I  have  thouglit  proper  to 
omit  in  the  foregoing  narrative ;  as  I  am  conscious  that 
there  are  numbers,  who  never  has  had  the  trial  of  what 
they  were  able  to  undergo,  would  be  ready  to  charge  me 
with  falsehood,  as  I  have  often  observed  what  other 
narrators  have  met  with. 

Perhaps  it  will  not  be  amiss  to  conclude  this  narra- 
tive, with  a  few  observations  on  the  manners  and  cus- 
toms of  the  Arorigenes  of  our  country. 


INDIAN  PLANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

They  count  it  very  bad  manners,  for  any  one  to  speak 
while  another  is  talking,  or  for  any  one  to  interrupt  an- 
other in  discourse.  They  will  readily  cast  up  to  any 
one  who  would  do  so,  that  they  were  no  better  than 
Sho-ivan'-nough-kocky  or  white  people.    Whilst  one  is  de- 


^1 


le,  when  I 

;o?    nay,  I 

nee  guided 

as,  in  all 

where  the 

had    two 

as  scalped, 

when  Mu8- 

red  Green, 

nethinks  I 

displayed 

3h  we  have 
revent  ?  I 
exposed  to, 
i  proper  to 
iscious  that 
lal  of  what 
charge  me 
vhat  other 

;hi8  narra- 
and  cus- 


[S. 

to  speak 
?rrupt  an- 
[p  to  any 
kter  than 
lone  is  de- 


(  287  ) 

livering  a  discourse,  or  relating  a  story,  they  pay  the 
greatest  attention  to  him,  occasionally  repeating  the 
word  ke-hel'-lah,  which  signifies,  I  am  paying  attention 
to  what  you  are  saying. 

I  shall  now  enter  on  the  detail,  as  near  as  I  can  recol- 
lect. 

They  have  some  confused  notion  of  the  immortality 
of  the  soul,  hut  they  differ  widely  even  in  that  point  of 
of  their  creed.  Some  are  of  opinion,  that  after  the  soul 
leaves  the  body,  it  enters  into  the  body  of  some  foetus 
of  their  own  nation,  where  it  will  have  to  undergo  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  life,  as  they  had  done  whilst  they 
were  in  the  former  body,  and  that  they  will  go  from  one 
body  to  another  throughout  the  endless  ages  of  eternity. 
Others  are  of  the  opinion,  that  as  soon  as  their  Lin-nap- 
pe-oc^-can,  or  soul,  leaves  the  body,  it  takes  its  flight  to 
Keesh-.she'-ln-mil-lan(/'-i(p,  or  a  being  that  thouglU  us  into 
being,  as  the  word  signifies,  or  to  Mah-tan'-tooh,  or  bad 
spirit,  that  is,  the  devil,  there  to  enjoy  happiness  or  en- 
dure misery,  according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the  body. 
Others  are  of  opinion,  that  their  Linnap-pe-otf-can^  will 
have  to  wander  about  on  the  earth,  for  the  same  period 
of  time  that  they  had  lived  in  the  world,  and  undergo 
the  same  vicissitudes  that  they  had  done  whilst  they 
remained  in  the  body ;  then  after  that,  they  will  go  to 
Keesh-she'-la-mil-lang'-up,  where  they  expect  to  remain  in 
a  happy  state  forever.  I  never  understood  by  them, 
that  they  had  any  idea  of  the  resurrection  of  the  body 
after  death.* 

As  to  their  religion,  (if  they  may  be  said  to  have  any,) 
they  generally  select  their  seed  corn,  when  they  are 

*The  above  were  the  general  points,  or  heads  of  their  creed,  be- 
fore their  prophet  made  his  appearance  amongst  them. 


- 1  < 


(  288  ) 

pulling  it.  After  they  plant,  they  take  part  of  what  is 
left,  and  sometimes  the  whole,  and  pounds  it  into  meal, 
then  kneads  it  into  a  large  cake,  and  bakes  it  under  the 
ashes,  having  previously  procured  the  head  and  neck  of 
a  doe,  which  they  boil  into  Jelly — then  invites  one  of  the 
oldest  Indians  in  the  town  to  come  and  eat  of  it;  permit- 
ting him,  or  her,  to  carry  off  the  remainder  with  thern. 
This,  they  say,  is  an  offering  to  their  maker,  praying 
that  he  would  give  them  a  good  increase  of  what  they 
put  in  the  ground.  In  like  manner,  when  their  corn  is 
in  the  roasting-ear ;  before  they  eat  any  of  it  themselves, 
they  hunt  for  a  buck;  if  they  happen  to  get  a  large 
one,  they  count  it  a  good  omen.  They  boil  the  whole 
in  their  kettles,  and  take  as  much  of  the  green  corn  as 
they  judge  to  be  sufficient  for  their  purpose,  scraping  it 
ofi'  the  cob,  and  thickening  the  broth  with  it ;  then 
invites  twelve  of  the  oldest  persons  in  the  town,  to  wit : 
six  men  and  six  women.  When  they  assemble  at  the 
place,  each  brings  a  small  kettle  and  a  spoon  with  them ; 
they  are  told  that  the  provision  prepared,  is  an  offering 
to  Keesh-she'-la-mil-lanc^-up.  Having  previously  divided 
the  meat  into  twelve  shares,  they  give  each  an  equal 
portion,  and  also  divide  the  broth,  or  rather  mush,  in  the 
same  manner.  After  they  have  eaten  till  they  are  satis- 
fied, they  raise  a  loud  halloo,  thus,  h o,  holding  the 

sound  as  long  as  they  are  able  to  retain  it  with  one 
breath,  repeating  it  twelve  times;  stopping  at  certain 
intervals  and  thanking  their  Maker  for  sending  them 
such  good  provisions.  After  the  ceremony  is  over,  they 
take  the  skin  of  the  buck  and  give  it  to  one  of  the 
twelve,  whom  they  think  is  most  in  need  of  it ;  at  the 
same  time  giving  one  of  the  other  sex  as  much  wam- 
pum as  they  value  the  skin  to  be  worth ;  at  which  they 


III  I'  [|IW 


rt  of  what  is 
it  into  meal, 
it  under  the 
and  neck  of 
es  one  of  the 
fit;  permit- 
with  them, 
fer,  praying 
f  what  they 
heir  corn  is 
themselves, 
get  a  large 
the  whole 
Jen  corn  as 
scraping  it 
^  it;    then 
•wn,  to  wit: 
able  at  the 
with  them ; 
an  offering 
ily  divided 
an  equal 
ush,  in  the 
^  are  satis- 
3lding  the 
with  one 
at  certain 
ing  them 
3ver,  they 
le  of  the 
it;  at  the 
ich  wam- 
lich  they 


(  289  ) 

step  out  of  doors  and  sit  down,  with  their  faces  towards 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  and  perform  the  same  ceremony, 

with  the  addition  of  sounding  the  word  h o,  twice, 

with  a  low  voice.    After  all  is  over,  each  retires  home, 
carrying  what  they  left  from  their  meal,  home  with  them. 

They  have  also  several  other  rites;  such  as  making 
a  burnt  offering  of  the  head  and  neck  of  a  buck  to  the 
sun ;  which  they  will  perform  with  great  solemnity,  in 
the  following  manner:  When  the  hunting  season  com- 
mences, the  first  large  buck  they  kill,  they  cut  the  neck 
off  the  body,  close  to  the  shoulders,  carry  it  home  with 
the  horns  on;  they  kindle  a  large  fire,  placing  the  wood 
east  and  west;  lay  the  offering  in  the  middle  of  the  fire, 
with  the  face  of  it  toward  the  east ;  then  take  u  tara- 
pine  shell,  with  a  parcel  of  small  whites  stones  in  it, 
and  walk  round  the  fire,  rattling  the  shell,  and  singing 
very  loud,  until  the  whole  is  consumed.  The  rest  of  the 
family  sitting  round  the  fire  the  whole  time  without 
uttering  one  word ;  neither  will  they  eat  any  of  the  flesh 
of  the  buck,  till  after  the  oflFering  is  entirely  consumed. 
It  would  be  endless  to  describe  the  ofll'erings  they  make 
to  their  various  deities :  such  as  the  Moon,  burnt  offer- 
ings to  Angels,  which  they  denominate  Sink-ho-leeli-can- 
nack,  which  signifies  spirits  above.  They  also  make 
offerings  to  their  deceased  relatives;  such  as  tobacco, 
bread,  meat,  watermelons,  and  sometime  wampum  and 
apparel.  It  would  be  unnecessary  to  be  particular  in 
describing  the  various  offerings  that  they  offer  to  their 
various  deities.  I  shall  therefore  decline  this  subject, 
and  enter  on  others,  more  interesting. 

When  a  woman  is  in  her  pregnancy,  she  generally 
provides  a  hut,  to  which  she  resorts,  when  the  time  of 
her  delivery  approaches — as  she  does  also  at  certain 


(  290  ) 


w 


other  times — during  which  period,  she  has  no  communi- 
cation with  any  other  person,  except  those  who  carry 
provisions  to  her.  Before  she  comes  to  her  house  again, 
she  washes  herself,  and  all  her  clothes,  let  the  season  he 
ever  so  severe.  How  they  became  so  far  acquainted 
with  the  Mosaic  law,  as  treats  of  uncleanneps,  is  a  mys- 
tery to  me  1  I  shall  therefore  leave  the  subject  to  be  de- 
veloped by  abler  writers. 

Of  their  Mode  of  Warfare. — When  any  one  takes  it 
into  his  head  to  go  a  tour  at  war,  he  informs  some  of 
his  friends,  or  intimates,  of  his  design,  and  if  any  of  them 
approves  of  it,  they  tell  him  they  will  go  along  with  him. 
As  soon  as  he  has  three  or  four  of  a  company  made  up, 
they  go  to  their  council-house,  ( as  they  have  one  in 
every  town,)  at  night ;  having  previously  provided  a 
drum  for  that  purpose,  they  beat  it,  and  sing  war  songs, 
and  dance  war  dances — they  are  soon  joined  by  others ; 
as  soon  as  they  think  they  have  a  sufficient  number, 
they  proclaim  the  day  they  intend  to  march,  and  he  that 
made  the  first  proposition  of  going,  is  their  Moy-a-ooh'- 
whese,  or  foreman,  for  that  tour.  When  they  are  ready  to 
march,  their  Moy-a-ooh'-wheae,  or  captain,  puts  his  luggage 
on  his  back,  takes  up  his  gun  and  tomahawk,  and  some- 
times his  hauqh-cas-king-gue-heeld -can,  or  what  we  call 
death  mallet,  the  rest  following  his  example ;  he  sings  a 
war  song,  the  rest,  at  the  same  time,  pronouncing  a  kind 
of  articulation,  or  noise,  (which  I  am  not  able  to  spell, 
with  all  the  assistance  the  English  alphabet  can  give.) 
When  he  is  done,  they  all  at  once  set  up  a  most  hideous 
yell;  he  then  marches  foremost  out  of  the  house,  the  rest 
following  one  after  another,  in  the  form  of  what  we  call 
Indian  file;  when  he  is  got  clear  of  the  town,  he  fires  oft 
his  gun,  and  the  rest  follow  his  example;  he  then  raises 


wgm^tmB^mm^mssmBm 


10  communi- 
B  who  carry 
house  again, 
he  season  be 
'  acquainted 
'PS,  is  a  mys- 
jectto  bede- 

)ne  takes  it 

rms  some  of 

any  of  them 

ig  with  him. 

ly  made  up, 

ave  one  in 

provided  a 

Ef  war  songs, 

I  by  others; 

nt  number, 

and  he  that 

Moy-a-ooh'- 

ire  ready  to 

his  luggage 

and  some- 

at  we  call 

he  sings  a 

ing  a  kind 

»le  to  spell, 

can  give.) 

•st  hideous 

?e,  the  rest 

lat  we  call 

le  fires  oft 

hen  raises 


(  291  ) 

a  war  song,  or  tune,  (which  actually  has  some  music  in 
it,)  which  he  sings  so  loud,  that  he  may  be  easily  heard 
a  mile  or  two  oft",  at  which  he  continues  till  he  gets  out 
of  hearing — the  rest  raising  hideous  yells  at  certain  inter- 
vals. It  must  be  observed,  that  if  any  one  draws  back, 
(which  is  seldom  the  case,)  he  is  reckoned  to  be  a  cow- 
ard ;  so  that  they  would  rather  abide  the  consequence  of 
whatever  might  befall  them,  than  to  be  charged  with 
cowardice.  When  they  return,  they  fix  what  scalps  they 
get  on  the  end  of  a  long  pole,  which  their  Moy-a-ooh'-whese, 
or  foreman,  carries  over  his  shoulder ;  the  prisoners  either 
go  before  or  close  after  him ;  he  raises  the  war  halloo  as 
soon  as  he  thinks  he  is  near  enough  the  town  to  be  heard : 
as  soon  as  he  is  heard  at  the  town,  all  the  young  men 
run  out  to  meet  them ;  the  foremost  takes  hold  of  the 
pole  that  the  scalps  are  fixed  to,  and  runs  to  the  council- 
house  as  fast  as  he  is  able ;  the  prisoners  are  directed  to 
follow  him ;  some  of  those  who  come  out  to  meet  them, 
pursue  the  one  that  carries  off  the  scalps,  and  the  rest 
falls  to  beating  the  prisoners,  ( that  is,  if  the  prisoners  are 
men,)  if  they  are  women,  some  of  the  men  takes  hold  of 
them  by  the  hand,  and  leads  them  along;  as  soon  as  the 
squaws  observes  them,  they  run  to  meet  them,  and  follow 
the  example  of  the  men :  the  beating  that  the  women 
gets,  depends  on  those  who  lead  them,  that  is,  whether 
they  run  fast  or  slow.  They  generally  quit  beating  them 
when  they  get  to  the  council-house — the  severe  usage 
they  get,  depends  on  the  number  of  towns  they  have  to 
pass  through,  as  they  have  to  undergo  a  like  treatment 
at  every  town.  When  they  get  to  their  destination,  they 
adopt  them  into  some  family.  Those  whom  they  design 
to  burn,  they  paint  their  faces  black :  they  have  a  cus- 
tom, (it  cannot  be  said  to  be  a  law,)  that  is,  if  any  one 


k ,.  .^«  *«»«  a^J  W*** *— • 


»t.«  ^'jfciwy*)**-* 


ili 


*  'i 


'i.     ! 


(  292  ) 

will  offer  the  value  of  thirty  buck-skins  for  the  victim, 
he  must  be  given  up  to  him,  alledging  they  would  have 
bad  luck  if  they  refused  to  accept  it:  the  one  who  makes 
the  purchase,  keeps  him  as  a  slave,  to  hunt  &  raise  corn 
for  him.  I  knew  an  old  Indian  who  made  three  of 
these  purchases ;  he  was  a  man  that  shewed  great  lenity 
to  the  white  people ;  although  he  had  been  a  great  war- 
rior, when  he  was  young,  whilst  they  were  at  war  with 
other  nations — such  as  the  Catawbas,  Cberokees,  &c.  I 
recollect  he  gave  all  those  whom  he  had  purchased  up, 
at  the  time  I  was  given  up.  The  old  Indian  had  his 
body  covered  over,  from  head  to  foot,  with  certain  hiero- 
glyphics— which  they  perform  by  inserting  gunpowder, 
or  charcoal,  into  the  skin  with  the  point  of  a  turkey 
quill,  sharpened  in  the  form  of  a  pen,  or  some  other  in- 
strument they  have  for  that  purpose ;  which  always  de- 
notes valor.  The  method  they  take  to  perform  the  opera- 
tion, is  by  tying  the  person  who  has  to  undergo  it,  on  a 
broad  slab,  stretching  out  his  arms  and  legs  at  full  length, 
fastening  them  to  posts  drove  into  the  ground  for  that 
purpose.  When  one  side  is  done  they  turn  up  the  other ; 
80  great  is  their  superstition,  that  they  would  rather  suf- 
fer death,  than  flinch.  It  must  be  observed,  it  is  but  the 
fewest  number  that  will  undergo  the  operation — as  it  is 
generally  done  at  the  risk  of  life ;  indeed  it  was  almost 
entirely  out  of  custom  before  I  left  them. 

I  understood  by  them,  that  it  was  their  general  cus- 
tom, after  they  had  been  in  an  engagement,  for  every 
one  who  had  taken  off  a  scalp,  to  bring  it  to  their  Moy- 
a-ooh'-whese,  or  foreman,  and  throw  it  down  at  his  feet. 
There  was  one,  who,  after  scalping  the  head,  he,  for 
diversion,  scalped  a  man's  privates,  and  brought  it  to  his 
Moy-a-ooh'-whrs€.    I  have  heard  him  relate  the  fact,  (as 


\he  victim, 
rould  have 
nrho  makes 
:  raise  corn 
e  three  of 
;reat  lenity 
great  war- 
t  war  with 
ees,  &c.    I 
chased  up, 
m  had  his 
rtain  hiero- 
junpowder, 
f  a  turkey 
le  other  in- 
always  de- 
1  the  opera- 
rgo  it,  on  a 
full  length, 
id  for  that 
)  the  other ; 
rather  suf- 
it  is  but  the 
jTi — as  it  is 
was  almost 

eneral  cus- 
for  every 
their  Moy- 
at  his  feet, 
ad,  he,  for 
;ht  it  to  his 
he  fact,  (as 


(  293  ) 

I  believe  it  to  be,)  more  than  twenty  times,  which  gen- 
erally created  a  great  laughter  amongst  them.  I  also 
heard  others  relate  it  as  a  fact,  who  were  present  at  the 
time  it  was  done. 

Another  narrative  I  frequently  heard  them  relate,  was, 
that  they  were  out  on  a  tour  against  the  southern  na- 
tions,— that  some  time  in  the  after  part  of  the  day,  they 
discovered  a  track,  which  they  followed  until  dark : — 
they  concluded  to  stop  until  morning ; — but  old  Pee-til^ 
that  is  Peter,  an  uncle  of  mine,  (a  most  barbarous  inhu- 
man old  wretch,)  told  them  that  if  they  would  follow 
him  he  would  keep  the  track  till  day-light,  they  agreed 
to  do  so,  and  to  their  great  surprise  he  shewed  them  the 
track  the  next  morning,  which  they  followed  until  about 
the  middle  of  the  day,  when  they  came  to  an  encamp- 
ment of  hunters,  and  killed  a  number  of  them. 

I  have  often  heard  Mus-sooh'-uhese,  or  Ben  Dickeson, 
relate  that  he  had  been  down  murdering,  but  was  not 
satisfied  with  what  he  had  done,  because  one  white  man 
had  out-run  him,  and  made  his  escape,  notwithstanding 
he  had  shot  at  him  when  he  was  jumping  over  a  fence, 
not  more  than  four  or  five  steps  from  him.  He  there- 
fore left  the  company,  and  went  to  another  part  of  the 
settlement,  where  he  sulked  about  for  some  time;    at 

*  Old  Peetil  was  a  brother  to  An-raan-zees,  whom  I  mentioned  I 
had  lived  with  the  first  year  I  was  amongst  them.  Notwithstanding 
they  were  brothers,  I  presume  that  their  natural  tempers  were  as 
opposite,  as  that  between  an  angel  of  light,  and  the  promoter  of  all 
mischief,  or  the  devil. 

Many  cruelties  I  have  heard  others  relate — which  they  said  they 
had  seen  him  do — besides  one  or  two,  that  I  had  ocular  demonstra- 
tion of —  how  he  treated  two  prisoners,  (both  females,)  whom  he  had 
taken  and  kept  as  slaves  ;  for  he  never  would  consent  to  have  any 
of  the  white  people  adopted  into  his  own  family. 


I . 


C  294  ) 

last,  being  at  the  side  of  a  creek,  one  morning,  he  saw  a 
deer  in  the  water  which  he  thought  he  would  kill ;  whilst 
he  was  creeping  up  to  the  deer,  he  heard  a  rustling  in 
the  leaves  close  by  him ;  on  looking  about,  he  saw  a 
white  man  creeping  towards  the  deer,  whom  he  shot 
instantly  on  the  spot,  and  pulled  off  his  scalp.  An  old 
man,  whom  he  supposed  to  be  the  father  of  the  man  he 
had  killed,  came  running  toward  him,  hallooing  at  him 
if  he  had  killed  the  deer ;  as  Dickeson  could  speak  the 
English  language  perfectly  well,  he  answered,  Yes,  by 
G — d,  and  if  you  don't  believe  me  here  is  the  skin ; 
shaking  his  son's  scalp  at  him.  The  old  man  made  his 
escape  from  him. 


^h> 


OF  MATRIMONY. 

When  a  man  takes  the  notion  of  marriage,  (that  is 
only  those  who  are  of  some  note  amongst  them,)  he 
informs  his  mother,  or  some  other  female  relative,  ot 
his  intention  of  entering  into  the  matrimonial  state, 
requesting  her  to  make  a  choice  for  him.  She  then  men- 
tions half  a  dozen  or  more  whom  she  knows  to  be  indus- 
trious, out  of  which  he  makes  choice  of  two  or  three  of 
the  number — making  a  preference  of  one  out  of  the 
whole ;  he  then  gives  his  mother,  or  other  female  rela- 
tive, a  shroud,  or  piece  of  broad-cloth  about  a  yard  and 
a  half  square;  they  are  of  different  colours;  some  red, 
some  black,  and  some  blue,  which  the  women  double 
up  and  tie  around  their  waist  for  a  petticoat ;  a  blanket 
or  pair  of  leggins  ;  and  sometimes  a  shirt :  if  they  are 
good  hunters,  and  become  pretty  wealthy,  they  will  some- 
times send  the  whole  as  a  present  to  the  intended  bride. 


wy^wwamii-  I 


m 


(  295  ) 


f,  he  saw  a 
:ill;  whilst 
rutjtling  in 
,  he  saw  a 
m  he  shot 
p.  An  old 
he  man  he 
ling  at  him 
.  speak  the 
)d,  Yes,  by 
the  skin; 
n  made  his 


^e,  (that  is 
them,)  he 
relative,  ot 
)nial  state, 
then  men- 
be  indus- 
or  three  of 
ut  of  the 
male  rela- 
yard  and 
some  red, 
en  double 
a  blanket 
f  they  are 
will  some- 
ded  bride. 


The  present  is  offered  to  the  woman  whom  he  first  made 
choice  of,  and  so  on,  alternately ;  if  the  first  refuses  to 
accept  of  it,  the  one  that  takes  it  is  informed  what  part 
of  the  house  he  lies  in :  some  time  in  the  night,  after 
they  all  retire  to  bed,  the  modest  bride  slips  away  to 
him  and  creeps  down  behind  him — where  she  lies  till 
about  an  hour  or  two  before  day;  then  she  rises  and 
goes  home,  pounds  a  mortar  full  of  corn,  bakes  it  into 
cakes,  puts  them  into  a  basket,  carries  them  to  the  groom 'a 
house  and  sets  them  down  at  his  bed  head ;  then  goes 
home  again  :  he  rises  up  by  daylight,  takes  some  of  the 
cakes,  and  his  gun, — if  he  has  good  luck,  and  kills  a 
deer  soon,  it  is  reckoned  a  good  omen ;  he  takes  it  on 
his  back,  and  carries  it  to  the  bride's  house,  throws  it 
down  at  the  door,  and  goes  his  way  home,  which  com- 
pletes the  nuptials.    The  modest  bride  appears  shy  and 
bashful  for  a  few  days — and  only  goes  to  the  groom  at 
nights  after  the  family  retires  to  bed :  still  observing  to 
bring  the  groom  his  provisions  every  morning,  (that  is 
if  she  has  any  to  spare.)     In  a  few  days  she  becomes 
more  familiar,  and  at  last  contents  hereself  to  live  along 
with  him ;  they  are  generally  jealous  with  their  wives, 
and  sometimes  they  will  whip  them  severely  if  they 
judge  them  to  be  unfaithful  to  the  marriage  bed.     It 
must  be  observed,  that  the  women  have  to  do  all  the 
domestic  labour — such  as  raising  corn,  cutting  firewood 
and  carrying  it  home  on  their  backs ;  and  I  have  known 
the  men  when  they  had  killed  a  deer  five  or  six  miles 
off,  to  carry  the  skin  home  on  their  backs,  &  send  their 
wives  for  the  carcase.     The  hard  labour  they  are  sub- 
jected to,  is,  perhaps,  the  reason  they  are  not  so  prolific 
as  civilized  nations.    They  do  not  reckon  polygamy  to 
be  a  crime,  by  the  men,  although  a  woman  is  obliged  to 


m 


'I- 


ll 

:i  ,1, 


rl 


(  296  ) 

content  herself  with  one  man  at  once.  They  are  seldom 
guilty  of  incestuous  marriapjes — I  never  knew  but  one  in- 
stance of  the  kind  whilst  I  was  amongst  them ;  and  that 
was  a  man  that  took  two  sisters  to  wife  at  the  same  time, 
I  have  heard  them  say,  that  if  a  man  was  known  to  be 
guilty  of  incest  with  a  near  relation,  even  a  first  cousin, 
that  he  ought  to  be  put  to  death. 


OF  THEIR  FUNERALS. 

When  one  dies,  they  dress  the  corpse  with  a  shirt,  a 
new  blanket  or  ehroud,  a  pair  of  new  leggins  and  moc- 
casons ;  tie  belts  and  strings  of  wampum  around  their 
neck;  paints  their  faces  with  vermillion,  and  then 
stretches  them  out.  As  soon  as  day-light  disappears, 
two  of  the  relatives  of  the  deceased  goes  out  of  the 
house  where  the  corpse  lies,  and  fires  off  their  guns,  six 
rounds,  as  fast  as  they  can  load  and  fire.  As  soon  as 
that  is  over,  all  the  men  in  the  town  fires  off  their  guns 
alternately.  So  that  a  stranger,  not  acquainted  with 
their  ways,  would  be  led  to  believe  that  it  was  an  en- 
gagement. As  many  as  chuses  to  go,  goes  to  the  wake. 
The  women  occupies  that  side  of  the  fire  where  the 
corpse  is  laid ;  the  men  the  opposite  side,  where  they 
pass  their  time  at  playing  cards ;  the  women  are  en- 
gaged at  a  certain  kind  of  plays  which  I  think  need- 
less to  describe.  At  certain  intervals  the  women  quits 
their  diversion,  and  sets  up  a  lamentable  noise  or  tune, 
still  repeating  the  relationship  that  existed  between 
them  and  the  deceased,  at  wliich  the  men  quits  the  cards, 
and  sits  with  great  solemnity  for  about  the  space  of  half 
an  hour  :  then  falls  to  their  divertion  again.  About  break 


J  are  seldom 
V  but  one  in- 
m ;  and  that 
e  same  time, 
known  to  be 
first  cousin, 


ih  a  shirt,  a 
s  and  moc- 
round  their 
,  and  then 
disappears, 
out  of  the 
jir  guns,  six 
As  soon  as 
'  their  guns 
tinted  with 
was  an  en- 
0  the  wake, 
where  the 
where  they 
en  are  en- 
link  need- 
men  quits 
se  or  tune, 
i   between 
the  cards, 
ace  of  half 
jout  break 


(  297  ) 

of  day  they  fire  off  their  guns,  as  they  had  done  the  pre- 
ceding evening.  They  dig  the  grave  about  four  or  five 
feet  deep,  directly  east  and  west ;  they  make  slabs  which 
they  place  on  the  bottom,  and  at  each  side ;  they  lay  in 
the  corpse,  with  head  to  the  east,  and  put  a  broad  slab 
over  the  top ;  then  fills  the  grave  nearly  full  of  stones, 
heaping  the  earth  which  they  dug  out  of  it  on  the  top, 
so  that  when  it  is  finished,  it  has  the  resemblance  of  a 
potatoe  hole ;  they  set  up  a  long  pole  at  each  end  of  the 
grave,  they  paint  the  one  at  the  head,  if  the  deceased  has 
been  a  warrior,  with  certain  hieroglyphics — denoting 
how  often  he  had  gone  to  war — how  many  he  had  killed 
— if  he  had  been  a  Moy-a-ooh'-whese,  or  foreman,  liow  many 
men  he  had  lost,  and  how  often  he  had  been  wounded. 
For  a  year  after  the  interment,  the  female  relatives  will 
frequently  go  to  the  grave,  and  lament  over  the  deceased ; 
they  will  sometimes  take  a  parcel  of  tobacco  to  the  grave, 
inviting  some  person,  near  of  the  same  age  of  the  de- 
ceased, to  go  along  with  them  to  smoke  the  tobacco, 
believing  that  the  deceased  will  get  the  benefit  of  it  after 
it  is  consumed. 

The  only  punishment  they  inflict  for  murder  is,  to  re- 
taliate on  some  of  the  most  respectable  relative  of  the 
murderer :  they  will  keep  it  in  memory  to  the  third  and 
fourth  generation.  I  knew  one  who  stabbed  another 
under  the  arm  with  his  knife,  whose  great  grandfather, 
he  said,  had  killed  his  great  grandfather  many  years 
before ;  they  kept  it  in  memory  from  one  generation  to 
another,  till  they  found  a  fit  object  to  wreak  their  ven- 
geance on.  The  fellow  was  told  by  the  one  who  stab- 
bed him,  that  he  was  going  to  revenge  the  death  of  his 
great  grandfather  on  him  ;  he  gave  him  three  stabs  under 
the  left  arm  :  he  got  cured  of  his   wounds ;   I  saw  him 


-    '  I 


'■I 


i 


ii 


(  298  ) 

several  times  afterwards,  I  heard  those  who  were 
present  at  the  time  he  was  stabbed,  say,  that  he  sat  as 
unconcerned  as  if  nothing  had  ailed  him,  until  some 
minutes  after  he  received  the  wounds ;  he  then  tumbled 
over  in  a  fainting  fit.  The  knife  was  taken  fi*om  the  one 
who  stabbed  him — I  saw  it  frequently  afterwards,  as  it 
was  my  adopted  brother  that  took  it,  and  undertook 
the  cure ;  it  was  a  common  pocket  knife,  about  three 
inches  long  in  the  blade. 

Litigation  is  entirely  unknown  among  them;  they 
allow  that  all  men  have  an  equal  right  to  the  soil,  ex- 
cept what  they  improve — and  that  only  during  the  time 
they  occupy  it.  When  a  family  builds  a  house  and  im- 
proves a  piece  of  land,  and  afterwards  removes  to  another 
town,  (which  they  frequently  do,)  the  first  tl\at  comes, 
takes  possession  of  his  house  and  the  improvement 
without  any  interruption.  If  the  right  owner  re- 
turns within  a  year  or  two,  they  restore  his  house  and 
field  to  him,  without  any  contention.  If  any  one  steals 
a  horse,  or  any  other  property — the  owner  takes  it  where- 
ever  he  can  find  it.  It  must  be  observed,  however,  that 
they  are  seldom  guilty  of  larceny  amongst  themselves, 
although  they  do  not  consider  it  to  be  a  crime  to  steal 
from  the  white  people. 

They  pretend  greatly  to  necromancy.  If  a  person  loses 
any  thing,  those  necromancers  will  readily  undertake  to 
tell  him,  or  her,  whether  the  property  was  stolen  or  lost; 
if  stolen,  who  the  thief  is,  and  where  it  might  be  found. 
Those  conjurers  are  also  considered  to  be  doctors ;  if 
they  are  applied  to  by  the  relatives  of  the  sick — they 
will  readily  undertake  the  cure,  still  observing  to  con- 
jure out  the  disease  before  they  prescribe  any  medicine. 
The  method  they  take  is  thus :  they  lay  the  patient  on 


li'M 


^— 


.'••ffssrwi- 


(  299  ) 


who  were 
it  he  Bat  as 
until  some 
en  tumbled 
rom  the  one 
varde,  as  it 

undertook 
ibout  three 

hem;  they 
le  soil,  ex- 
ig  the  time 
ise  and  im- 
to  another 
l\at  comes, 
provement 
owner  re- 
louse  and 
one  steals 
s  it  where- 
rever,  that 
lemselves, 
le  to  steal 

rson  loses 
iertake  to 
nor  lost; 
36  found, 
octors ;  if 
ck — they 
to  con- 
nedicine. 
^tient  on 


his  back,  or  side,  on  the  floor ;  the  doctor,  or  conjurer, 
sits  down  with  great  solemnity  at  his  head,  rattles  a 
tarapine  shell,  and  sings  a  conjuring  song  for  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  then  lays  down  his  shell,  claps  his 
hands  and  makes  a  kind  of  articulation,  or  noise,  that 
nearly  resembles  dogs  that  are  going  to  fight,  talking  by 
the  intervals  as  if  he  was  conversing  with  familiar  spirits ; 
jirking  from  side  to  side,  as  if  he  was  making  some 
discovery,  occasionally  taking  a  sup  of  water,  which  he 
has  set  by  his  side,  and  blowing  over  his  patient.  After 
he  has  gone  over  his  mana^uvre — he  pretends  that  he 
has  discovered  the  disorder  ;  as  he  pretends  that  he  can 
see  into  the  inside  of  the  patient — he  then  gives  directions 
what  herbs  to  get,  and  how  to  make  use  of  them.  There 
was  two  of  those  conjuring  doctors  employed  when  I 
was  sick,  but  I  do  not  recollect  that  I  got  any  benefit 
by  them. 

Whilst  we  were  living  at  Kseek-he-oong,  my  brother 
took  unwell,  he  complained  of  a  severe  pain  on  the  back 
part  of  his  neck,  or  rather  between  his  shoulders — as  they 
impute  almost  every  disease,  incident  to  their  manner 
of  living,  to  be  the  effect  of  witchcraft,  my  brother 
readily  concluded,  as  well  as  others,  that  he  was  be- 
witched :  he  had  no  appetite,  and  appeared  to  pine  away ; 
he  continued  in  that  condition  more  than  a  month, 
when  a  trading  Indian  came  to  the  town  with  liquor — 
as  they  are  generally  much  addicted  to  intoxication, 
they  soon  got  to  drinking;  the  night  after  they  had  got 
to  their  drunken  frolick;  they  continued  to  drink  with- 
out relaxation  whilst  the  liquor  was  kept  in  the  town. 
A  number  of  them  of  both  sexes  were  collected  at  our 
house — we  had  two  fires  in  the  middle  of  the  house,  one 
at  the  side  of  the  other ;  they  were  all  sitting  promiscu- 


•> 


i   t 


w 


(  300  ) 

ously  on  deer  and  bear  8kin8,spread  on  the  floor  for  the  pur- 
pose. There  was  a  woman  who  had  the  apellation  of  be- 
ing a  witch ;  my  brother  was  in  such  pain  that  he  could  not 
turn  his  head  round  without  turning  his  body  also ;  whilst 
they  were  sitting  round  the  fire,  the  woman,  who  was 
perhaps  about  forty  years  of  age,  rose  up  instantly  and 
clapped  down  on  her  knees  behind  his  back,  she  clinched 
her  hands,  putting  one  on  the  part  that  was  pained,  the 
other  on  the  top  of  that,  then  applyed  her  mouth  to  the 
uppermost  hand ;  she  sat  in  that  position  about  half  a 
minute,  apparently  sucking  her  fist ;  at  last  she  threw 
herself  back  and  struggled  for  a  few  moments,  as  if  she 
was  in  a  convulsion ;  after  she  rose  up,  she  reached  her 
hand  across  the  fire  to  an  Indian,  who  had  the  name  ot 
being  a  necromancer,  he  apparently  took  something  out 
of  her  hand  and  held  it  close  in  his  a  considerable 
time,  then  rose  up  and  stepped  out  a  few  minutes,  A 
few  days  after  they  had  got  over  their  drunken  frolick, 
he  came  back,  after  taking  a  smoke  of  Qush-a-tih'-ok-kil- 
lick-ken-eek'-can,  that  is,  tobacco  and  a  mixture,  such  as 
sumac  leaves,  red  sally  bark,  &c.  he  drew  up  the  edge 
of  a  deerskin  behind  where  she  sat,  when  the  woman 
reached  her  hand  across  the  fire  to  him,  he  scraped  up 
the  earth  where  he  drew  out  a  leaf  that  had  been  folded 
up ;  when  he  unfolded  the  leaf,  he  took  out  a  small  piece 
of  muscle-shell,  which  he  said  was  what  the  woman 
gave  him,  and  that  it  had  been  fixed  between  my  broth- 
er's shoulders  by  a  Man-nit' -took,  spirit  or  necromancer 
as  the  word  signifies,  which,  he  said,  would  undoubtedly 
have  taken  his  life,  had  it  not  been  taken  off.  If  there 
was  any  deception  in  what  I  have  related,  there  must 
have  been  several  others  deceived  as  well  as  myself ; 
however,  there  was  one  thing  I  was  not  deceived  in,  that 


M 


•^itt^aMMttaHiiiilMiiMMi 


MMMiiHilliiliii 


rforthepur- 
lation  of  be- 
he  could  not 
also;  whilst 
n,  who  was 
stantly  and 
he  clinched 
pained,  the 
louth  to  the 
)out  half  a 
she  threw 
ts,  as  if  she 
cached  her 
he  name  ot 
Qethingout 
3nsiderable 
linutes.    A 
en  frolick, 
iih'-ok-kil- 
re,  such  as 
the  edge 
Ihe  woman 
craped  up 
een  folded 
mall  piece 
e  woman 
my  broth- 
romancer 
oubtedly 
If  there 
ere  must 
myself ; 
d  in,  that 


(301  ) 

was,  my  brother  recovered  from  that  instant,  and  con- 
tinued in  perfect  health  until  I  left  him,  which  was  at 
least  four  years  afterwards. 

When  they  returned  from  a  tour  at  war,  I  have  heard 
them  relate  the  method  they  took  to  decoy  the  unwary ; 
sometimes  getting  into  wheat  fields  and  bleating  like 
a  fawn,  in  order  to  decoy  the  people  out  to  catch  it,  that 
they  might  take  or  kill  them ;  sometimes  fixing  them- 
selves near  to  a  house,  and  about  break  of  day,  they 
would  gobble  like  a  turkey-cock,  in  order  to  decoy  men 
out  that  they  might  kill  them.  Sometimes  they  have 
gone  to  houses,  where  they  expected  to  meet  with  no 
defence,  in  order  to  get  information  of  the  situation  of 
the  country,  and  after  getting  victuals,  and  the  neces- 
sary information  they  wanted,  they  would  fall  to  and 
murder  their  informers. 

I  might  have  also  related  the  many  necessary  precau- 
tions we  have  taken,  when  we  were  apprehensive  of 
danger.  But  I  have  exceeded  the  limits  I  prescribed  in 
writing  this  narrative;  I  shall  therefore  close  it,  sub- 
scribing myself  your  humble  servant, 

JOHN  M'CULLOUGH. 


END  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUME. 


V  h;M*     I, 


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The  Wonderful  Magazine,  and  Extraordinary  Museum  :  being 
a  Complete  Repository  of  the  Wanders,  Curiosities,  and  Rarities  of  Na- 
ture and  Art,  comprehending  a  Valuable  Collection  (  all  well  attested, 
and  from  respectable  authorities )  of  Authentic  and  Entertaining  De- 
scriptions of  the  most  Wonderful,  Remarkable,  and  Surprising  Volcanos, 
Cataracts,  Caverns,  Waterfalls,  Whirlpools,  and  other  Stupendous  Phe- 
nomena of  the  Earth,  resulting  from  Earthquakes  and  the  general  De- 
luge; strange  Customs,  peculiar  Manners  of  remote  Countries,  wonder- 
ful Occurrences,  singular  Events,  heroic  Adventures,  absurd  Characters, 
remarkable  for  eating,  drinking,  fasting,  walking,  &c.  memorable  Ex- 
ploits, amazing  Deliverances  from  Death,  and  various  other  Dangers, 
strange  Accidents,  extraordinary  Memoirs,  astonishing  Revolutions,  &c. 
Memoirs  of  the  most  singular  and  remarkable  Persons  of  both  Sexes,  in 
every  Walk  of  human  Life. 

Consisting  of  a  great  Variety  of  very  eccentric  Characters  famous  for 
long  Life,  Courage,  Cowardice,  extraordinary  Strength,  Avarice,  as- 
tonishing Fortitude,  as  w^U  as  genuine  Narrations  of  Giants,  Dwarfs, 
Misers,  Impostors ;  singular  Vices  and  Virtues ;  uncommon  Eclipses, 
Storms,  remarkable  Providences,  heroic  Atchievements,  supernatural 
Occurrences,  strange  Discoveries  of  long  concealed  Murders,  &c.  &c. 
forming  altogether,  a  New  and  most  Complete  History  of  the  Extraor- 
dinaries  and  Wonders  of  the  World.  The  whole  selected  from  the 
most  approved  and  celebrated  Historians,  Voyagers,  Travellers,  Philos- 
ophers, Physicians  and  other  eminent  and  distingished  Persons  of  every 
Age  and  Country,  and  from  the  most  expensive  Works  and  Manu- 
scripts. 


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